SEAT IBE Concept Paris 2010 – sports coupé zero-emissions

SEAT sets a firm course for electro-mobility – with the SEAT IBE concept car, the Spanish brand is presenting at the 2010 Paris Motor Show its clear vision of a super-compact sports coupé for the urban mobility of the near future. The first version of the SEAT IBE was already presented in Geneva; since then its design, technology and interior have been further developed. Now on show is its interior, which is incredibly spacious and versatile for this vehicle format.

Driving fun and dynamics are at the forefront with the SEAT IBE, as is clearly evident with just one look at the red paintwork of the concept car. The little sports car is low and wide, with powerful proportions and a concentrated gaze delivered by the razor-sharp lines of its LED headlamps. With its short body length of only 3.83 meters, it is the ideal fit for the urban mobility of the young and young at heart. And the SEAT IBE combines perfectly its sports car character with innovative technology. The all-electric drive facilitates local zero-emissions driving fun, while the powerful motor with 75 kW (102 hp) and the low weight delivered by intelligent mixed-material construction guarantee refined performance.

“SEAT is working very hard on future electro-mobility,” stresses James Muir, President of SEAT, S.A. “Following the great success of our highly efficient ECOMOTIVE models, hybrids and electric vehicles are further steps in our clear corporate strategy. And the IBE leaves no room for doubt – the future will find SEAT offering the most innovative, bold and youthful cars in their respective segments, without sacrificing anything in terms of usability.”

“Zero-emissions mobility in urban areas is becoming increasingly important,” says Frank Bekemeier, Executive Vice-President for SEAT responsible for Research and Development. “SEAT is developing innovative concepts for these new challenges. The IBE is a very special combination of compactness, usability and style, which makes it unique.”

“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 Donkerwolke.

The SEAT IBE is a super-compact 2+2 sports coupé. At just 3.83 metres short, it undercuts the successful SEAT Ibiza by around 20 centimetres. Yet, at an unusually wide 1.77 metres and only 123 centimetres high, the IBE possesses the classic proportions of a sports car.

The SEAT IBE is an all-electric vehicle that generates zero local emissions and has a package layout optimized for this new technology. The drive motor is located together with the power electronics at the front of the car. Their compact dimensions facilitate the extremely flat and dynamic contour of the bonnet. The lithium-ion battery is positioned in the rear. Thanks to an incredibly compact independent rear suspension layout, the energy storage unit fits beneath the floor of the luggage compartment. The power unit delivers a maximum output of 75 kW (102 hp) and 200 Nm of torque.

The city dash from 0 to 50 km/h takes only 3.6 seconds; within 6.6 seconds, the IBE has reached 80 km/h, and after only 9.7 seconds it arrives at 100 km/h. This performance is a function not only of the powerful off-the-line characteristics of the electric motor, but also the low weight of the SEAT IBE, which tips the scales at only 1,100 kilograms.

The continuous power rating is limited to 50 kW (68 hp), with the top speed pegged at 160 km/h – which is more than enough to cut an impressive figure even on urban motorways. Battery capacity is 18 kWh and set up for a range of around 130 kilometres, which is plenty to cover all the daily mobility requirements of city life.

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