Opinión Hola al 2008 SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive, Spain's Environmentally Friendly New Car

THE NEW SEAT IBIZA ECOMOTIVE CO2 emissions of under 100 g/km

• Fuel consumption of just 3.8 litres per 100km

• 1.4 TDI 80 hp engine with a diesel particulate filter

• Improved aerodynamics and low-friction tires

BARCELONA - October 7, 2007:

Frankfurt was the venue chosen by SEAT to present one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles ever produced by the Spanish brand: the new Ibiza ECOMOTIVE. Its 1.4 TDI 80 hp engine reduces emissions to below 100 g/km, producing 99 g/km. This constitutes a real technological achievement and makes the vehicle ready for the stricter CO2 regulations that will come into force over the next few years.

However, the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE’s low emissions do not only serve to make it an environmentally friendly vehicle. Thanks to changes made to the already sound basis of the 1.4 TDI 80 hp version, it is also one of the most fuel-efficient models in the Spanish brand’s range.

With increasing numbers of countries applying higher taxes to models with the highest emissions and fuel consumption levels, the excellent figures of a model such as the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE stand out. This means that the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE not only protects the environment: it also helps customers who buy it to save money.

1.4 TDI 80 hp engine with diesel particulate filter
The 1.4 TDI 80 hp engine was used as a basis for the new Ibiza ECOMOTIVE. This engine was already achieving low emissions and fuel consumption levels previously.

Work began by equipping the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) with new developed software. Additionally, new gear ratios for the gearbox and further specifications were changed. This reduced the vehicle’s emissions level to 99 g/km, compared with the 118 g/km produced by the road version. As for fuel consumption, the weighted average has been lowered from 4.6 litres per 100 km to 3.8 litres per 100 km in the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE.

Thanks to the DPF, as standard equipment of this Ibiza ECOMOTIVE, the soot particles emitted by the diesel engine are filtered. This prevents them from harming the environment. If these soot particles are not filtered, they remain suspended in the air, attracting other harmful elements. The emissions produced by a diesel vehicle contain approximately 0.3% harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide and, as mentioned, soot particles.

The engine control unit continuously checks the state of the filter, activating regeneration in order to burn the accumulated soot particles. Thanks to this system, the particle filter does not require any sort of maintenance during the car’s service life.

As for gear ratios, the reduction of the overall unit has extended the range of all the gears, especially third, fourth and fifth. Indeed, fifth is not just a “cruise” gear, but is instead completely useable, thanks to the maximum torque of 195 Nm, with the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE reaching its maximum speed of 177 km/h when in fifth. The objective is to optimize the working revs area to make the engine work around the lowest consumption revs and thus to reduce consumption, while enabling the vehicle to respond well when accelerating thanks to the performance of the 1.4 TDI 80 hp engine.

Improved aerodynamics
Vehicle aerodynamics are another of the areas that have been developed to reduce both consumption and emissions figures. Resistance to movement is reduced, thus lessening the effort made by the mechanics of the vehicle and consequently cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

Starting off from the excellent basis of the standard Ibiza, the engineers at the SEAT Technical Centre have managed to optimise the ECOMOTIVE’s aerodynamic drag coefficient to 0.3, compared with the figure of 0.315 achieved by the standard version.

Particular attention has also been paid to the wheels. The Ibiza uses specific Dunlop SP10 A 165/70 R14 tyres, which, thanks to the materials and production technology, provide less resistance to the road surface compared with the 195/55 R15 tyres used on the standard version. Pressure in the front and rear tyres of 2.9 and 2.7 bar also contributes to this. The reduced breadth of the tyres also boosts the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

Still focusing on the wheels, the SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE has steel wheels with closed-shape hubcaps. These wheels are less air-resistant than open alloy wheels. It is also worth highlighting that wheel diameter has been reduced, helping to improve the aerodynamic coefficient.

Weight reduction
With a view to achieving lower fuel consumption and emissions levels, the weight of the SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE has also been reduced. At first sight this might seem to be the easiest aspect to improve, but in fact this is far from being the case.

The reason why this proved difficult was that the basis used for the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE was the Ibiza 1.4 TDI 80 hp Reference, the entry level to the range, which already had a very low weight. Central locking and the electric windows have been removed from this version, and a puncture repair kit has replaced the spare tyre.

By doing this, the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE’s minimum weight has been reduced from 1,106 kg to 1,084 kg.

Without renouncing comfort or safety
However, an environmentally friendly car like the new ECOMOTIVE should not have to lose out in terms of comfort or safety. Given that the 99 g/km figure is the average emissions value in a range of weights / car, the equipment that the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE can carry would maintain the maximum weight within the limits set by the said range.

In all the countries where the ECOMOTIVE will be marketed, its standard equipment will include features such as ABS, three rear height-adjustable headrests, side airbag, front seatbelt tensioner, front passenger seat airbag deactivation facility, central locking and electric front windows.

In addition, there are also numerous options (which in some countries will be included as standard), such as ESP, air conditioning, CD radio with up to six speakers, anti-theft alarm, curtain airbag, cruise control, headlight washer system, electric exterior mirrors, and automatic activation of lights and heated seats.

And all this without exceeding the maximum weight, so that the emissions level for this version remains at 99 g/km.