Prius is dead... factory SEAT does 97.4mpg - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tompaah7503 · #1 05-12-2009, 07:34 AM

So why buy an expensive Prius with a price premium for the Hybrid (hybris) drivetrain when you can get more MPG's out of a Seat Ibiza?

http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2009/05/08/seat-ibiza-sets-new-economy-record/

Quote:

The new generation SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive has once again asserted its status as one of the most environmentally-sensitive cars in its segment by covering a staggering 970 miles (1,562 km) on a single tank of fuel, resulting in an average consumption figure of 97.4 mpg.

TX76513 · #2 05-12-2009, 09:00 AM

That car would make to much sense to sell in US so we won't see it at any of our VW dealers.

tankdriver · #3 05-12-2009, 09:23 AM

I doubt it would pass regulations here.

Graplr · #4 05-12-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompaah7503

So why buy an expensive Prius with a price premium for the Hybrid (hybris) drivetrain when you can get more MPG's out of a Seat Ibiza?

Why? Because you can't buy a Seat Ibiza here...

Fulcrum525 · #5 05-12-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

Why? Because you can't buy a Seat Ibiza here...

Its based on a VW Polo which could easily be sold here. Its not so much that it isn't but that it could be sold here. If the Smartcar can be sold here then I don't see why the Polo cannot be.

pj67coll · #6 05-12-2009, 10:56 AM

Interesting. I'd like to know what the real world economy would be and how effective the A/C is. I would also be interested in wether or not the thing is safer than a Smart. You would think so but the Smart was designed with safety in mind given it's size whereas this thing is just an economobile.

- Peter.

LUVMBDiesels · #7 05-12-2009, 11:03 AM

If VW brought it into the USA (rebadged as a VW and not as a SEAT which nobody in the USA knows) It would probably go for $35k anyway. Of course it also would not meet Cali emmisions laws just because it is a Diesel never mind the fact that it is rated at 76mpg and got 30 mpg better durig this test... We are going to be stuck with hydrogen fuel cells and gas/electric hybrids due to our laws while the rest of the world runs these high mpg diesels and will run them on bio fuels...

tompaah7503 · #8 05-12-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Interesting. I'd like to know what the real world economy would be and how effective the A/C is. I would also be interested in wether or not the thing is safer than a Smart. You would think so but the Smart was designed with safety in mind given it's size whereas this thing is just an economobile.

Article up top says 76.3 mpg (combined cycle), don't know about the A/C.
I don't think the SEAT Ibiza (chassis) is primarily constructed as a economobile since it is available with larger engines also, it's just this 1.4 TDI that gets the exceptional fuel economy (note: when driven carefully). The previous generation (-2008) scored 5 stars at Euro NCAP crash tests, not bad! Comparing with the Smart ForTwo (2,5m) the Ibiza is a large car at 4m length..

Fulcrum525 · #9 05-12-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Interesting. I'd like to know what the real world economy would be and how effective the A/C is. I would also be interested in wether or not the thing is safer than a Smart. You would think so but the Smart was designed with safety in mind given it's size whereas this thing is just an economobile.

- Peter.

If its rated at around 75 and the AC brought it down to say 68....I don't think anyone would complain

pj67coll · #10 05-12-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

If its rated at around 75 and the AC brought it down to say 68....I don't think anyone would complain

Are those US galons or the ones they use in England?

- Peter.

Fulcrum525 · #11 05-12-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Are those US galons or the ones they use in England?

- Peter.

Not sure. The point is really that even at the bottom end its still more efficient then anything you can buy here (Jetta TDI would be the closest)

tompaah7503 · #12 05-12-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Are those US galons or the ones they use in England?

Oops I didn't think about this when writing the original post but apparently it's 97,4 UK Gallons per mile.. that's "only" 81 US mpg! Edited post title to reflect this..

Graplr · #13 05-12-2009, 11:43 AM

The problem is if it comes to the US, just like the smart car its mileage will be far less than in other countries because they will have to change a bunch of stuff. The mileage will them most likely be in the range of the Prius.

diametricalbenz · #14 05-12-2009, 11:47 AM

EPA would have to certify the engine and have the chassis passed through the normal channels for approval.

Either way who's going to buy an 80hp car? That's unpopular.

pj67coll · #15 05-12-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diametricalbenz

EPA would have to certify the engine and have the chassis passed through the normal channels for approval.

Either way who's going to buy an 80hp car? That's unpopular.

To me there's nothing attractive about the car other than it's mileage. However assuming it could be sold here without being altered into uselessness so that you can actually expect to get around 60 to 70 mpg US wih the A/C in operation it might be something I'd consider.

- Peter.