New /// Seat Exeo ST White Line 2011

Seat lance en Belgique une édition limitée de l'actuelle Exeo ST MY2011 au style sportif et à l'équipement pléthorique pour un prix mini.

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New /// Seat Mii 2012 [+ photos/vidéo]

Après la VW puis la Skoda, c'est maintenant au tour de la version Seat de la nouvelle mini-citadine du groupe VW de faire son apparition. Sous le nom Mii, elle reprend la même recette que ses deux cousines: simplicité, polyvalence et qualité. Bref, des voitures qui se veulent sans soucis!

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Concept /// Seat IBL 2011

Seat a dévoilé l’IBL au Salon de Francfort, une nouvelle étude de style qui nous présente le design des futures modèles de la marque espagnole.

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New /// Seat Exeo Sedan & ST MY2012

La gamme Exeo de Seat, composée d'une berline familiale et d'un break, évolue pour 2012 avec des détails destinés à peaufiner son image.

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Officiel: le Belge Luc Donckerwolke chez Volkswagen

La nouvelle a été officiellement confirmée: le designer automobile belge Luc Donckerwolke quitte Seat pour Volkswagen où il sera, dès le 1er aoît, à la tête du "design avancé". A ce poste, il rapportera directement au grand patron du style Volkswagen, Walter de Silva.

La prochaine étape pour Donckerwolke sera vraisemblablement de remplacer de Silva. Jusqu'à présent, la carrière de Luc Donckerwolke a été particulièrement féconde.

C'est en 1992 qu'il est entré au sein du groupe Volkswagen. Après deux ans chez Audi, où il a signé les lignes de la première A4 Avant et de la remarquable A2, trés originale pour l'époque, il passe chez Skoda où il collabore avec un autre Belge, Dirk Van Braeckel, à une époque où le succès de la marque tchèque s'affirme de plus en plus. Mais la période qui parle le plus à l'imagination dans son parcours est évidemment son passage à la tête du style Lamborghini.

A son arrivée, les réactions de scepticisme ne manquent pas: une Lamborghini ne peut être dessinée que par un Italien, pensent certains. Donckerwolke prouve le contraire. La Murcielago est une réussite et la Gallardo qui suit peu après en est un autre, encore plus grande. C'est aussi une réussite commerciale puisque cette même Gallardo est la Lamborghini la plus vendue de toute l'histoire de la marque au taureau!

Après cela, le Belge met le cap sur Barcelone où il devient responsable du style Seat. Après la Toledo, qui n'a pas connue le succés attendu, sa tâche est de donner un nouvel élan à la marque espagnole. C'est Donckerwolke qui est le père de l'actuelle gamme Ibiza. Et aujourd'hui, le voici chez Volkswagen où l'on attend de lui qu'il redonne plus de souffle stylistique aux futures voitures de Wolfsburg. Il laisse sa place chez Seat à Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, jusque là directeur du design chez Samsung (groupe Renault).

Source: Volkswagen & Belga
Crédit photo: Volkswagen

Reportage /// En direct du Worthersee tour 2011

Le meeting tuning annuel de Worthersee, en Autriche, est devenu un spectacle de grande envergure. A l'origine, depuis la première édition, il y a trente ans, il s'agissait d'un rassemblement de propriétaires de Golf GTI. Année après année le cercle des participants autorisés s'est élargi aux autres VW mais également aux Seat, Skoda et Audi.

De nouveau des bolides très particuliers étaient de la partie en 2011. Audi a attiré l'attention avec son A1 Clubsport Quattro. L'A1, sportivement habillée pour l'occasion, emprunte ici le cinq-cylindre de la RS3 mais boosté à quelques 500 ch!

Album Photo /// Concept Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro 2011

Cliquez sur "View all" pour voir tout l'album et télécharger les photos en Haute Définition!

Du côté de chez VW, les fanatiques ont longuement admiré la Golf Cabrio R Concept, très proche techniquement de la Golf R de série. Il va sans dire qu'il s'agit de la Golf Cabrio la plus rapide de l'histoire grâce à son 2 litres turbo de 270 ch et 350 Nm.

Album Photo /// Concept Volkswagen Golf Cabrio R 2011

Cliquez sur "View all" pour voir tout l'album et télécharger les photos en Haute Définition!

Cette année la palme de l'audace revient plus que certainement à la Skoda Fabia RS 2000, une version découvrable du monstre de rallye engagé en compétition par le constructeur tchèque.

Album Photo /// Concept Skoda Fabia RS 2000 2011

Cliquez sur "View all" pour voir tout l'album et télécharger les photos en Haute Définition!

Source: Audi, Seat, Skoda & Volkswagen
Crédit photo: Volkswagen

Luc Donckerwolke à la direction du style VW avec de'Silva

La rumeur s'officialise: le designer belge Luc Donckerwolke part chez Volkswagen en tant que bras droit du chef du design Walter de'Silva. En anticipant, cela signifie que Luc Donckerwolke prendra sans doute, Ã terme, le poste de de'Silva.

La carrière de Donckerwolke est jalonnée de succès. Après un bref passage chez Peugeot, il officie chez Audi où il crée l'A2. La petite voiture n'a pas connu un succès commercial important mais dans le monde de l'automobile tout le monde reconnaît qu'elle est très en avance sur son temps.

Lorsque Lamborghini passe sous le giron Audi (et donc aussi VW), Donckerwolke reçoit l'ambitieuse mission de recréer l'image de cet emblématique constructeur. Et c'est avec une réussite qu'il y parvient: d'abord avec la Murcielago mais surtout la Gallardo qui reste à ce jour la plus vendue des Lamborghini de tous les temps.

En 2005 le designer est envoyé à la tête du design de Seat. A cette époque, le constructeur espagnol est en demande de nouvelles voitures à forte personalité. L'Ibiza s'essouffle et la Toledo est un flop. C'est donc à Donckerwolke que l'on doit la dernière génération d'Ibiza. D'autres concepts intéressants suivent mais pas l'argent qui permet de les concrétiser.

Une politique d'économie est mise alors en place. On le voit notamment avec les Exeo qui ne sont autres que des Audi A4 de génération précédente légèrement redessinée. Ensuite, il y a aussi le monovolume Alhambra dont la nouvelle génération est simplement un copier/coller du VW Sharan.

Le passage chez VW promet donc une nouvelle impulsion pour Luc Donckerwolke.

Source & crédit photo: Volkswagen

Seat Ibiza ECOMOTIVE Sets World Fuel-Saving Record of 2.9lt/100km - 81.1MPG

We're always a bit wary of these fuel-saving records as the outcome always depends on a number of factors that include besides the car, the driver, condition of the roads, speed, traffic, weather etc., but whatev. According to VW Group's Spanish subsidiary, a Seat Ibiza ECOMOTIVE that's powered by an 80HP 1.4-liter diesel engine set a new record in its segment by covering a distance of 1,562 km or 971 miles on a single tank of fuel (45.53lt), resulting in an average consumption figure of 2.9 l/100 km or the U.S. equivalent of 81.1mpg.

Behind the steering wheel of the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE was Austrian long-haul specialist Gerhard Plattner who drove out of the Martorell facilities near Barcelona last Monday 27 April, after both the bonnet and the fuel tank filling mouth had been sealed. Plattner drove across Spain, France and Germany with the trip ending at the town of Göttingen, in lower Saxony, Germany.

Seat said that at some points along the way on motorways in Spain and France, Plattner brought the Ibiza up to cruising speeds of 110 km/h or 68mph- yes, that's not the kind of guy you'd like being behind in a one-lane country road.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

SEAT Pays Tribute to Ibiza with 25th Anniversary Edition

Still trying to find what's so special about this special edition Ibiza other than the '25th Anniversary' logo on the rear hatch? We don't blame you, we did the same and came up with nothing. Apparently, VW Group's subsidiary hasn't any money laying around for fancy-pansy anniversary models so the special edition Ibiza that pays tribute to the model-series' 25th birthday is no more "special" than any other example of the latest generation Spanish supermini.

Of course to justify the "25th Anniversary" logo, SEAT has enhanced the Ibiza's standard equipment with climate control, dark glass, 17 inch alloy rims, parking position door mirrors, passenger airbag disconnection and USB port + Bluetooth. For all this, SEAT asks for an additional €384.27 if you choose the 85HP 1.4-liter gasoline engine and €400 when you combine the package with the 105HP 1.9-lityer TDI diesel. The "special edition" model is available in both three-door (SC) and five-door body styles.

The Ibiza 25th Anniversary will make its premiere at next month's Barcelona Motor Show in Spain where SEAT will prepare an exhibit of the four generations of the Ibiza.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

New 1.6-liter Common Rail Diesel for Seat Ibiza

Beginning from June, the 2009 Seat Ibiza will be available in Europe for the first time with the VW Group's new 1.6-liter common rail turbo diesel engine that replaces the 90 horsepower 1.9-liter TDI unit. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the 1.6 TDI CR produces an output of 90HP and 230Nm of peak torque at 1,500 – 2,500 rpm returning an average fuel consumption of 4.2 lt/100 km (56mpg US) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.

The new engine that will fit between the existing 80HP 1.4-liter TDI and the 105HP 1.9-liter TDI in the Ibiza's range will be available in both the 5-door and 3-door (SC) versions of the Spanish hatch.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Audi Q3 Small SUV Coming in 2011, to be Built by SEAT in Spain

An all new small SUV model called the Q3 that will sit right under the Q5 will be added to Audi's range in 2011, the German automaker announced today. To the delight of SEAT's workers as it will help protect around 1,200 jobs, Audi said that the Q3 SUV will be manufactured at the Spanish firm's Martorell factory outside Barcelona. Audi was also considering to build the Q3 in the USA, however the company said that due to the economic crisis, it has postponed this decision.

"We will systematically explore our options in the context of the current market crisis. Audi is in a good position. There is currently no urgent need to select additional sites," said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI.

Commenting on the decision to produce the Q3 in Spain, SEAT Chairman, Eric Schmitt said, "We are overjoyed to be able to keep up the good relations we have enjoyed over the past few years with Audi, and we will continue to nurture that relationship in the future with the manufacture of the brand's new model in our production plant".

Manufacture of the Audi Q3 will begin in 2011 with an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 units. The total investment in the Martorell plant will amount to around €300 million.

Audi's small SUV will be based around the VW Tiguan architecture with power coming from a range of engines that will include the 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TSI turbocharged gasoline and the 2.0 TDI diesel units.

"The Q3 will blend a compact car's design and driving dynamics with an SUV's spaciousness and versatility. True to Audi tradition, innovative technical solutions will blaze new trails in efficiency, driving pleasure, and comfort," said the company in a statement.

* Vehicle seen in the photos is the 2007 Audi Cross Coupe Quattro Concept Study

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

VW Group Confirms new Minicars for VW, Seat and Skoda Brands

The Volkswagen Group has revealed that it will introduce a new family of small cars based on the Up! prototypes for the VW, Seat and Skoda brands. Europe's largest carmaker announced that it has also taken the decision to build all variants of the minicar that are known as "New Small Family" at its Bratislava plant in Slovakia. The first examples of the city cars that will be available in 3-door and 5-door versions will roll off the production lines at the beginning of 2011.

"Our team at Volkswagen in Slovakia is ideally prepared to provide the flexibility required for the production of the New Small Family. Four brands are already produced successfully under one roof at our plant in Bratislava today," said Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft.

The first study for these economical city cars, the three -door Up!, made its world debut at the Frankfurt Show in 2007 followed a few weeks later by a five-door iteration called Space-Up! at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show while VW also introduced a third variant at the 2007 Los Angeles Show called the Space-Up! Blue.

Even though the Up! concept studies featured a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, it remains to be seen if the VW Group retains this architecture on the production versions.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

2009 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift with 240HP to Premiere at Barcelona Show

SEAT has chosen next month's Barcelona International Motor Show (May 9-17) to pull the covers off the facelifted version of the Leon Cupra which is essentially the Spanish firm's VW Golf GTI. Like the rest of the 2009 Leon range that was revealed at the Geneva Show in March, the Cupra has received a series of minor cosmetic upgrades that include a new grille design that sports a smaller badge, larger headlights and new door mirrors. Look closely and you'll also spot a new tailgate design and tail light clusters.

The Cupra in particular also gets a newly styled front bumper with larger air-scoops at each corner and the word 'Cupra' printed on the left side. The sport hatch's looks are rounded off with a new set of 18-inch alloy wheels.

For the interior, aside from the tweaked instrument and center console designs which are common to the rest of the Leon range, the Cupra also features a three-spoke leather steering wheel with aluminum color inserts and a matching gearbox knob along with a set of sport bucket seats for the front passenger and driver. A new option for the 2009MY Leon Cupra is the black leather upholstery with white cross-stitching that you can check out in the photos below.

Underneath the bonnet, the 2009 Leon Cupra gets the same 240HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as found in the previous version. Top speed is clocked at 247 km/h or 154mph, the 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint takes 6.4 seconds while it covers the first 1,000m from standstill in 26.4 seconds. At the same time, average combined fuel consumption is listed at 8.3lt /100 km or 28.3mpg US.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

New SEAT Ibiza FR with 150HP 1.4 TSI: First Photos and Details

In SEAT's vocabulary, 'Cupra' is the equivalent of the Audi RS models while 'FR' is comparable to the German firm's 'S' badged cars. Now that we have got that out of the way, let's see what the VW Group's Spanish brand has in store for us. Set to make its world debut alongside the 2009 Leon CUPRA 240HP facelift at next month's Barcelona International Auto Show, the all-new Ibiza FR sits right under the Ibiza CUPRA model that was introduced at last year's Paris Motor Show.

It shares the same twin charged 1.4-liter TSI engine with the CUPRA, but detuned to develop an output of 150 instead of 180HP. The engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox or optionally, a seven-speed dual clutch DSG transmission with steering wheel shift paddles that features a sportier software than the one fitted on the 1.6 model of the Ibiza range. SEAT has not disclosed any performance figures but expect to see a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of around 8,0 seconds.

Compared to the standard Ibiza SC (three door model), the Ibiza FR is distinguished by a new front bumper featuring honeycomb slats and a chrome surround on the central grille plus a diffuser-style rear apron. Other unique exterior elements on the FR are the silver colored door mirrors (yep, just like Audi's S models), the 17 inch rims and the twin tailpipes.

As for the sport hatch's interior, it comes with a modified instrument panel that carries the FR logo, a new steering wheel and sport seats with special upholstery.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com