SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive and Leon Ecomotive
Author: Phil Rannard
Published: 13 February 2008
SEAT´s Ibiza and Leon Ecomotive variants are set to launch this year, with first deliveries of the low-emissions Ibiza supermini due to start in Spring.
The Ibiza Ecomotive emits 99g/km of carbon dioxide, making it exempt from both road tax and the London Congestion Charge, and costs £10,995.
The Leon Ecomotive hatch launches later this year and emits 119g/km, meaning exemption form the C-Charge. Prices will be announced closer to launch.
The Ibiza Ecomotive is powered by a 1.4-litre TDI with an engine ECU remapped to make the engine more efficient, a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), longer gearing, tweaked aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres to reduce road friction.
The super-efficient supermini includes manual air conditioning, electric front windows, steering wheel-mounted audio controls for the MP3-compatible single-disc CD/radio and speed-sensitive electro hydraulic power steering as standard.
Head of SEAT UK, Peter Wyhinny, said of today’s mayoral announcement: "Today’s news from London only serves to underline the appeal of the Ecomotive brand."
For one day some car manufacturers love Ken Livingstone
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Your demonstrator clearly was not run-in. Your wallet is the loser if it really was a deal breaker. My Ecomotive was ´stiff´ for the first 1,500 miles, but now I can comfortably change up at 2,000 rpm - which means 3rd gear from about 20 mph. This is also reflected in the fuel economy - a disappointing low 60s mpg when new (i.e. holding the lower gears), but now well into the high 60´s/low 70´s, depending on how I drive it. Whilst that isn´t the claimed 74.3 mpg, it certainly beats anything else on the market at the moment.
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I took the Ibiza Ecomotive for a test drive the other day. It is great on the motorway but if you mostly drive in town, forget it. The engine is not happy at 30mph - 2nd gear it screams and 3rd gear, it shudders as if it is about to stall. If this is the result of the longer gearing then for me it is a deal breaker. Now looking elsewhere for my new car.