For this year’s Wörthersee Treffen (May 28 – 31), the VW Group seems to have a preference for open-top concepts. We already knew that Skoda will reveal a Citigo with a chopped roof called CitiJet, and now Seat is trying a similar move with the Ibiza.
The Seat Ibiza Cupster celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Ibiza with a low, wrap-around windscreen and the complete absence of a top. The name is derived from the combination of Cupra and Roadster, as the study is based on the Ibiza Cupra, powered by a 180PS 1.4 TSI engine mated to a DSG dual-clutch transmission.
The two-seater car has largely the same body shell of the series-production model up to the shoulder line. However, everything above is radically open. There is no roof whatsoever and not even a front windscreen, which is replaced by a low, wrap-around strip of glass. The driver and passenger are well protected though, as the seating position is 80mm (3.14in) lower than in the series-production car.
The interior is based on the Ibiza racecars from the Ibiza Trophy and features minimalist instruments and black Alcantara upholstery for the cockpit, plus low-slung racing bucket seats. The steering wheel clad with an “especially sophisticated type of leather”, which is pure aniline leather colored all the through, without a layer of pigment. This makes it open-pored and pleasant to the touch.
The study is painted with the exclusive color “New Orange”, contrasting with the darkened glass, dark grey cover behind the classic double-bubble style and the 18-inch wheels.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
