SEAT Spanish car maker SEAT is ratcheting up the heat on the competition as it unveils a fresh suite of scorching summer deals on its range of sporty models. Style, value for money and an engaging drive are the keys to SEAT’s increasing success both here in the UK and across Continental Europe, where the brand is capturing market share at a prodigious rate.
Having notched up yet another record first quarter in January-March 2011, and with encouraging figures suggesting April, May and June may be similarly successful, SEAT’s sizzling summer offers present a tempting proposition for the nation’s bargain-hungry new car buyers.
A new, ultra-high value version of SEAT’s enduring favourite, the Ibiza, leads the charge.  Extending the now-familiar Copa trim level the debut of the Ibiza S Copa in all three bodystyles – SC, 5dr and ST – puts the sporty Spaniard in pole position for summer sales.
In addition to the entry-level Ibiza S model’s already generous trim, the S Copa now adds 15-inch ‘Ingenia’ alloy wheels, cruise control, front fog lights with cornering function, electrically-adjustable door mirrors and body-coloured door handles and mirrors.
The Ibiza S Copa is offered with either SEAT’s smooth 1.2-litre 12V 70 PS petrol engine – in SC or 5dr form – or, in all three Ibiza bodystyles, the Spaniards’ hyper-frugal, three-cylinder, 1.2-litre TDI turbodiesel.  Good for 75 PS, this unit generates just 92 g/km of CO2 on the official cycle and, regardless of bodystyle, offers a combined economy figure of more than 80 mpg.
All this and a price tag for the Ibiza SC S Copa of just £9,995 RRP or, subject to terms and conditions, a 42-month Personal Contract Hire (PCH) deal of £199 per month with a deposit of just £199.
Moving up the range the Ibiza SE Copa, meanwhile, adds such luxuries as 16-inch alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors, a leather-clad steering wheel and gearknob, dark tinted rear windows, rain and light sensors for automatic wipers and lights, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and climate control in place of the standard car’s manual air conditioning system.
The SE Copa supermini’s engine options are a more potent petrol in the shape of SEAT’s 1.4-litre 85 PS four cylinder, or the same 1.2-litre TDI that appears in the S Copa.
Prices start at just £10,495 RRP for the Ibiza SC 1.4 SE Copa.  That’s a premium of just £500 over the S Copa yet it adds extra spec’ worth an amazing £1,120!  Meanwhile the PCH terms remain the same as the S Copa – £199 down and £199 per month, again subject to terms and conditions.
Moving up the size range SEAT’s svelte Leon family five-door continues to offer exceptional value, with S Copa and SE Copa versions cramming in copious amounts of kit without a corresponding price hike.
In fact the Leon 1.2 TSI S Copa is currently available for just £13,995 RRP, a saving of £2,185 over the manufacturer recommended retail price of £16,180 on the road.
Meanwhile, the Leon 1.2 TSI SE Copa features an extensive array of standard-fit equipment such as the SEAT Media System that comprises state-of-the-art touch screen satellite navigation technology and 3D mapping, dynamic route guidance, SD card slot for MP3 playback, DAB radio tuner and Bluetooth audio streaming connectivity.
All this, and a price tag of just £14,695 RRP which equates to a saving of £2,245 over the manufacturer recommended retail price of £16,940 on the road.
Elsewhere, there are enticing money-off deals on SEAT’s capacious and practical Altea and Altea XL family, as well as discounts of up to £2,000 on versions of the luxurious Exeo saloon and versatile Exeo ST estate.
Explaining the latest range of great SEAT deals, UK Head of Marketing Steve Robertson said: ‘SEAT has a well-known and well-deserved reputation for building dynamic, engaging and downright sexy cars such as the latest Ibiza.
‘The arrival of the Copa trim level earlier this year, and the great offers we’re unveiling this summer, further emphasise that we can justly add ‘fabulous value’ to the long list of reasons for buying a new SEAT.’