This is the Seat IBE (it’s actually IB power E!), probably the least anticipated concept car of 2010 Geneva Motor Show! It’s a 1000 kg, 2+2 coupe, zero-emission vehicle which is powered by a 75 kW (102 hp) and 200 Nm of torque electric motor and 18 kWh batteries, which takes you from zero to 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds. At this point we are struggling to find anything interesting about it… Nope, there isn’t any!
James Muir, President of SEAT S.A. said: ‘With the IBE we are demonstrating that, for SEAT, electric mobility will always be combined with excellent design and outstanding driving fun. ‘The IBE is in the best SEAT tradition of always offering the boldest and most youthful cars in its class. On top of that, our first electric concept car represents the continuation of our strategy for the future.
‘Along with the huge success of the highly efficient Ecomotive models, we are now working intensively on electric mobility; and that includes plug-in hybrid drive, as well as an all-electric vehicle.’
The SEAT IBE is 3.78 metres long – making it more than 25 centimetres shorter than an Ibiza – but its unusual breadth of 1.80 metres and overall height of just 122 centimetres lend it classic sports car proportions. Classically sporty features of the two-door layout include its extremely low bonnet and long roof line. The short front overhang and muscular rear end work together with the arch-filling 19-inch wheels to underscore the car’s powerful, compact look.
Visual highlights include the full LED headlamps, trademark Arrow Design nose, elongated and flattened V-shaped bonnet (made possible thanks to use of a full electric motor), broad ‘shoulders’ and sculpted flanks. At the back, the rear light clusters again feature LED light guide technology and once again display the ‘arrow’ thematic.
