.jpg?p=120209_04:29)
.jpg?p=120209_04:31)
.jpg?p=120209_04:54)
.jpg?p=120209_04:35)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
Seat's official company line is that this, the IBE, is a concept coupe to show off a new VW Group modular electric drive system. The design chief says it shows us the company's new design language: 'a rolling DNA concentrate.' There's a lot of new-Leon in here.
The designer in question is Luc Donckerwolke, who in his old job at Lamborghini did the Gallardo and Murcielago. So he's got previous. This is his manifesto for Seat.
The IDE is remarkably, er, unshowy for a show car. No mad curves or levitating wings or rocket booster pods. But Donckerwolke says good design is about paring stuff back. "You should design with the minimum number of design elements. Then subtract one. So this car has no bluff or fireworks," he says.
What's left after all that reduction? A little coupe, shorter than an Ibiza but very wide, with narrow wheels. A compact electric motor snuggles under the bonnet. The compact surface-mount LED lights are possible for production in two years' time.
When we first clapped eyes on the IBE, we were a bit underwhelmed. But like many subtle things - and unlike Patum Peperium anchovy paste - it's definitely growing on us. The trick is to carry the purity to production and not let it get blanded-out to make the engineering easier.
Donckerwolke knows this. "Design is about battles. If I don't have a fight every day, I don't go home happy." We've always found him a charming fellow. But suddenly we're glad we don't have to work with him.
Paul Horrell, Consultant Editor of Top Gear magazine
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
FahadMustafa commented on this article
at 11:15 am on 03 March 2010
Cool looking thing, but don't those front lights look similar to the R8's?
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
scottneal commented on this article
at 12:25 pm on 03 March 2010
And none of that will make production. None.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
JOHNJOE commented on this article
at 06:37 pm on 03 March 2010
still a company i cant take seriously enough, they are just economy vws
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Twister commented on this article
at 04:06 pm on 04 March 2010
Not too keen on it to be honest, I don't like Seats all together so it's not for me. I do like the fact that it looks like a normal car for once, every one knows that the mad concepts will not be built so whats the flipping point of making them???
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
silmi commented on this article
at 04:00 am on 05 March 2010
Tell the designer to get creative... improved copycat won't do good... http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3858/seatibevsprotonsatriane.jpg
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.