SEAT UK has opened the order books for its new hot hatch threesome. The Ibiza SC can be had in FR, Cupra and Bocanegra form, with the latter being the cream of the crop.

All three share VW’s twin-charged 1,4-litre petrol engine, which uses both a turbocharger and supercharger to produce 110 kW in the FR, while in Cupra and Bocanegra trim it’s tuned to 132 kW – an output previously associated with a far larger engine.

Torque is available from just above idling speeds at 1 250 rpm, while all three hot Ibiza’s get the VW Group’s new second-generation seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox. It gets the obligatory Formula 1-style steering wheel paddles, which help the car achieve a zero to 100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds for the FR and 7.2 seconds for both the Cupra and Bocanegra. The FR reaches a top speed of 209 km/h while the Cupra and Bocanegra will hit 225 km/h flat out.

Thanks to the DSG, both versions of the engine produce attractive fuel economy and carbon emission figures, with the hotter Cupra and Bocanegra topping 6,4 l/100km (combined) and producing 148g/km of CO2, ensuring a much lower tax group in the UK than rivals such as the Renaultsport Clio 200 and Opel Corsa OPC.

All models receive the XDS electronic differential seen on the new VW Golf GTI but with prices far below that of the new GTI. The 110 kW FR is priced the lowest of the three, followed by the Cupra and the Bocanegra, which can be ordered with the dramatic exterior matching SEAT’s Bocanegra concept.

It’s a shame that VW South Africa has withdrawn the SEAT brand from our country. We hope that the new Polo GTI will deliver a true GTI experience in the baby Cupra’s place.