Interior design
Generous, precise and high-quality
On opening the door, one is immediately struck by the surprisingly spacious interior of the SEAT IBE. The room inside the compact sports car has been carefully optimised and is perfectly dimensioned for a dynamic and social lifestyle - as a two or three-seater with a generous luggage compartment, or as a 2+2 with a surprising amount of room, even in the rear. Its power sunroof underscores the bright and airy character of the interior.
“The IBE shows SEAT’s vision for a car of the future that is as emotional as it is ecologically responsible and affordable,” states SEAT Head of Design Luc Donckerwolke. “The IBE is a concentrated version of our design DNA. Both exterior and interior are characterised by their focus on key elements, by a clear and precise architecture, by modern technology and by materials that are as high-quality as they are ecological.”
Lightweight, almost floating dasboard
The clear and driver-oriented architecture is dominated by the raised dashboard that almost seems to float. It is supported on an extremely narrow centre console that flows smoothly into the centre tunnel. All interior elements are very minimalist, which benefits the usable space – and also the weight. One example is the sporty, contoured seats; the lightweight plastic buckets make them very slim, while the hi-tech foam padding delivers optimum seating comfort. The comfortable and spacious atmosphere is enhanced by the colour concept that creates an exciting contrast between the base colour “Ceramic White” and “Charcoal Dark” on the dashboard, seat upholstery and door panels.
Purist and minimalist
The large info display facing the driver supplies vehicle information like speed and charge status, and enables access to and operation of functions from the user’s personal device/smart phone. Most of the display’s functionality is accessed via touchpads on the steering wheel spokes. The other operating controls are also reduced to the bare minimum. The display is flanked by the indirect air vents and two control panels. These house the lighting and air conditioning functions and are just as minimal as the drive selection controls located on the centre console. Thanks to the electric drive, the buttons for P, R, N and D are more than enough. Three further buttons are sufficient to operate the electric parking brake, the AutoHold function and the E function that activates the efficient driving mode aid.
Powerful and feisty
The exterior design of the SEAT IBE also delivers an exciting glimpse into the ongoing development of the SEAT design language. The powerful proportions, the purist forms, the precise lines and the exact surfaces convey the characteristic SEAT identity with their consistent and unique design language. “The IBE is a gene pool for our next generation of vehicles,” says SEAT Head of Design Luc Donckerwolke. “Many of its elements describe our design language going forward. And it demonstrates how well driving pleasure and ecology come together at SEAT. Driving will be lots of fun in the electric age, too – at least it will in a SEAT.”
The IBE cuts an impressive figure from the very first glance, with its powerful stature and its classic sports car proportions. The two-door package also looks very sporty, with its extremely low bonnet and long roofline. Yet it interprets these styling elements in a unique way, in a compact format and optimised for urban mobility. Together with the 19-inch wheels, the short front overhang and the muscular rear with virtually no overhang add to the highly charged and compact look.
Sharp and precise details
For its appearance at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the SEAT Technical Centre has further developed the IBE and brought even greater sharpness and precision to a host of details. This applies primarily to the front end with its LED headlamps that are as sophisticated in their design as they are distinctive. They add even greater emphasis to the characteristic V shape that gives it its signature look.
The entire front end takes a powerful V form that then carries on through the bonnet. Emphasis has been added to the air vents in the lower front section, where sharply formed triangles echo the styling of the LED lights – which are also found on the wing mirrors and in the rear lights. The SEAT logo is located at the front on a trapezoidal functional surface. The alternative drive enables an extremely high degree of consistency in the design – because the electric motor and its power electronics require less packaging space, it was possible to stretch the bonnet a lot flatter across the front end than would have been possible with a conventional engine.
Broad shoulders, large wheels
The side profile of the IBE emphasises its powerful stature – the long roofline, with the dark-tinted glass roof providing a clear contrast to the rich red of the paintwork. The broad shoulders, the narrow glass surfaces, the powerfully formed flanks and the large diameter wheels with their aerodynamically optimised, double-spoke design all underscore the dynamic appearance. Yet the 175 format tyres are very reasonably sized – and thanks to their low rolling resistance, they contribute to the high efficiency of the electric concept car.
The highly distinctive shoulder line over the rear wheel arches and at the back further reinforces the look of precision. With its tight radii, this line represents a considerable challenge for the toolmakers, and provides further evidence of SEAT’s excellent manufacturing skills. The dainty door handles can be operated with a single fingertip. The socket for the charging cable can be found on the right side. The rear end echoes the characteristic forms of the front and reinterprets them. The split rear light clusters, featuring LED light guide technology, once again display the “arrow” thematic in their triangular casing.
The entire vehicle is completely devoid of ornamentation – good design needs no adorning. Every single line has its function in structuring the volumes and surfaces of the car; every muscle emerging from the form emphasises the sporty design. The reduction of forms, their consistent implementation and the precision in every detail are fixed elements of the SEAT design philosophy – and will be even more evident in future.
Successful ECOMOTIVE range
SEAT is a vehicle manufacturer with a particularly high degree of expertise in environmentally friendly technologies. Recent years have seen fuel consumption systematically reduced across the individual model ranges, with SEAT ECOMOTIVE emerging to enjoy enormous success on the market as a brand for exceptionally fuel-efficient vehicles. The pinnacle is the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE-E which, in its latest iteration, consumes only 3.4 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and emits only 89 grams of CO2 per kilometre despite its powerful 55 kW (75 hp) output. SEAT continues to expand the ECOMOTIVE offering; the Leon, Altea and Altea XL ranges have also been enhanced with these exceptionally low-consumption TDI variants. The new Alhambra ECOMOTIVE-E, too, sets an absolute best in the full-size MPV segment with a fuel consumption of only 5.5 litres.
Hybrid and electric drive as the next steps
The next step in the SEAT strategy is the Leon Twin Drive ECOMOTIVE. Its drive is derived from a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Yet it is far more than a conventional hybrid; it is a plug-in vehicle. Its lithium-ion battery can be charged at a standard electrical socket and has a range of around 50 kilometres. For longer trips, the internal combustion engine takes over. The first series production version of the Leon Twin Drive ECOMOTIVE is planned for 2014.
The Technical Centre is targeting the all-electric vehicle, with the SEAT IBE concept car serving as a taster. At the same time, the IBE marks the start of a targeted project for the promotion and development of electric mobility in Spain.
Leadership role in electric mobility
“This project is very important for Spain, for its technological development, its future perspectives and its industrial network,” says Frank Bekemeier, SEAT Executive Vice President for Research and Development. “The initiative is one of the most ambitious challenges faced by this country.”