Power for the Seat Ibiza Cupra currently comes from a 177bhp 1.4 TSI engineRevised version of Ibiza hot hatch set to ditch 1.4 engine and auto' gearbox in favour of a 1.8 and a manual when it launches later this year
A more potent version of the Seat Ibiza Cupra will be on sale by the end of the year.
The facelifted model is set to mark a significant shift from the current car by getting a larger, more powerful engine along with a six-speed manual gearbox instead of the automatic-only existing model.
The revised Ibiza Cupra is set to adopt the same 1.8 TSI engine as its Volkswagen Polo GTI sister car, which has also been recently revised. That car ditched its 177bhp 1.4 TSI and automatic gearbox in favour of the new 1.8 TSI and manual gearbox for its facelift, something which will be repeated on the Ibiza Cupra.
The Polo GTI’s 1.8 TSI produces 189bhp, but the power output of the Ibiza Cupra could eclipse that. Sven Schawe, Seat’s director of whole vehicle engineering and chassis development, told Autocar that negotiations with parent firm VW were ongoing about just how powerful they could make the new Ibiza Cupra.
The facelift to the Ibiza Cupra will also bring with it the changes and improvements seen on the rest of the range, including subtle styling tweaks, minor updates to the suspension and an interior that comes with a new infotainment system and materials with a greater perceived quality.
There is no word on any dynamic changes to the Ibiza Cupra, however, although the standard range has had its spring and damper rates revised.
The facelifted Ibiza Cupra will mark a swansong for the current generation of the Spanish supermini, with an all-new model in development for a launch currently scheduled for 2017.
Read Autocar's review of the Seat Ibiza facelift
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