The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show marked the debut of the Seat IBL Concept Sedan and even though Spanish officials claim this concept is just a design study and doesn’t preview any upcoming production model, I tend not to believe them. Why?
Well, first of all, the concept car’s design is very well proportioned and it looks like it was designed as an upcoming production model, to enter the mid-size sedan market. On the other hand, unlike most design studies, the car’s not futuristic but instead it’s styling is simple, very similar to current Volkswagen models (like the Jetta), but with sporty elements that stand out. With minor adjustments it looks like this model could enter production tomorrow.
The front part is dominated by the interesting headlights, featuring LED technology, plus the “arrow nose” shape traditional to Seat models. As for the rear part, it continues the same aggressive and elegant at the same time styling we saw in the front, with horizontal tail lights and sharp edges. The trunk is compact and there’s also a significant rear spoiler.
Basically, what the Seat IBL Concept does is bring back the idea of the “perfect” sedan from the ’80s and the ’90s, the lateral edge reminding us a little of the Alfa Romeo 155 or even the Alfa Romeo 166. Also contributing to the car’s sporty look are the large 20-inch alloy wheels.
On the inside, we have the same elegant and simple theme from the exterior, but the details suggest a high-end interior. The steering wheel is very sporty and the instrument panel, even though it looks classic, it’s entirely digital. The main dashboard features a large display showing three digital clocks, but it can also display other functions like the satellite navigation, internet connection or the multimedia system’s details. As for the central console, it integrates the air conditioning controls, the automatic gearbox’s knob and several storage spaces, all placed on a background made of transparent glass.
The colors used for the interior, white, red, black and gray follow the same sporty/elegant theme, with the seats featuring two-tone leather upholstery with red contrasting stitching. Overall, the IBL’s interior does nothing else than to point out the car’s premium ambitions.
Under the bonnet, the Seat IBL Concept is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but that’s about all the details we have available so far. We also know the driver can choose between three driving modes, Travel (comfortable), Sport (for aggressive driving) and Efficiency (for the best fuel economy).