SEAT IBIZA WINS DUTCH COMPACT CAR OF THE YEAR

Surely you're familiar with the marketing concept. Release a hot new car. Watch sales come your way. Time goes on. Hot new car ages. Tell everybody this once-hot new car won dozens of international awards in its day. See a few more sales come your way before end-of-cycle.

Well, one of those awards may well be the CCoty from the Netherlands. Yes, the Dutch like their compact cars, and apparently they like them with Spanish flair. Beating out Ford's excellent new Fiesta, the Mazda 2, a beautiful Alfa Romeo known as the Mito, Dacia's Sandero and the not-at-all-widely acclaimed Chevrolet Aveo, Seat's 2009 Ibiza becomes the Compact Car of the Year in the Netherlands.

(Read all Seat-related GCBC posts here)

Say the deciders: "The Ibiza is one step ahead of its rivals, and the difference can also be seen in the interior, where passenger compartment comfort is second to none." 

For those not aware of Seat's background, the Spanish automaker is a Volkswagen subsidiary. The Ibiza is about one size down on the Volkswagen Rabbit that we receive in North America, sharing architecture with the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia. The Ibiza in this CCoty contest was an 85-bhp 1.4L model. Obviously diesels are a popular choice, and horsepower can be as high as 180 in the Cupra model. Three and five doors are available.

Up one rung from the Ibiza is the Leon. The handsome Alteo and awkward Toledo seem to attack a similar market. The Alhambra is basically the same vehicle as Volkswagen Sharan and the Ford Galaxy. The Seat Exeo will be at the top of the rung. With the introduction of the new Audi A4, the Exeo is basically the older A4 reincarnated as a Spaniard instead of a German.

STABILITY CONTROL EXPLAINED

After making an example of advertising for the '09 Hyundai Sonata (more about which you can read here), GoodCarBadCar.net thought it important that you know exactly what electronic stability control really accomplishes. There are a couple videos below, but there's also a brief explanation from a Seat Ibiza ad that happened to be sitting right beside me on the back of a magazine as I write.

"ESP, or Electronic Stability Programme, is an ingenious thing. It constantly monitors data from the steering, tyres, brakes and accelerator and makes any necessary adjustments - an angel on your shoulder, if you like." Visit www.newseatibiza.co.uk for more. Toyota and Consumer Reports help explain stability control in these two clips.

THREE IMPORTANT EUROPEAN INTRODUCTIONS

North America isn't the only continent where Toyota is criticized for building boring - but better - cars that happen to be rather successful. When you first heard about the Scion tC, you might've also heard the odd mention of the Toyota Avensis. Parts were shared, architecture crossed the pond. There's a new Avensis in Europe, and while always a little more interesting than the last, this isn't a visual stunner. 

Built in Britain, the Avensis will, as expected, feature engines that Toyota says will, "that are both more powerful and emit less CO2." The car won't go on sale until the beginning of 2009. For details on the current Avensis and to remain slightly bored, have a look at the British Toyota site.

Meanwhile, Toyota also wants buyers to latch onto a more interesting vehicle in early '09. The Urban Cruiser will compete in a segment that, in Europe at least, has doubled in size since 2002. Toyota likes to refer to it as an urban all-roader. CO2 emissions should be somewhere under 140g/km. That's good. Perhaps the sale of a Scion xD 4x4 in America would help Toyota seize buyers who are drifting from SUVs but want.... an SUV.

Spanish automaker Seat, a subsidiary of the world's third biggest automotive conglomerate Volkswagen, has released images of its 180 horsepower twin-turbocharged Ibiza Cupra. Cupra is the Seat equivalent of BMW's M or, more likely, Chevrolet's SS. In size terms, the Ibiza is a Toyota Yaris competitor. In performance terms, this juiciest Ibiza takes it to a corporate cousin or two (Volkswagen Polo GTI for one) while ride quality is likely - I only said likely - about as stiff as John McCain at his vice-presidential introduction rally. 

Seat equips the Ibiza Cupra with a direct-shift gearbox. The tiny 1.4L engine should be a boon to eco-savers who still want fun-to-drive cars. Read more about the Ibiza at their UK site.

ADVERTISING IN evo

Don't be confused about what you'll read below. Take a look back at the so-called Strange Timing For Truck Advertising in Motor Trend in order to improve your comprehension. Now it's more than apparent to all of us that pickup truck advertising is nearly extinct in British car enthusiast magazines like evo. In an issue like 120 where evo delved heavily into eco, the timing would've been poor.

Nevertheless, having briefly covered the advertising scenario in Motor Trend's September issue, The Good Car Guy figures it's important to cover all bases. That makes this second base. Read on.

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2 - pages of advertising inside the cover for the Audi A6 Avant Le Mans Edition (A6's are available with V8s)

2 -  consecutive pages of advertising for the Volkswagen Passat CC

2 - consecutive pages of advertising for the Mercedes-Benz CLS (available with V8)

2 - consecutive pages of advertising for the Porsche using a picture of a '63 911

2 - consecutive pages of half-page advertising for the Saab 9-3 Turbo X

2 - consecutive pages of advertising for the Honda Civic Type R

2 - consecutive pages of advertising for the Lexus IS F (the only IS with a V8)

2 - consecutive pages of advertising for the Ford Kuga, the first vehicle even approaching an SUV/crossover inside evo's pages

2 - consecutive pages of advertising for the Vauxhall VXR8, a V8-engined Pontiac G8-alike

1 - page of advertising for the Prodrive-tuned Alfa Romeo Brera S alongside a 4-star review of the Alfa Romeo Brera S

1 - page of advertising on the back cover for the Seat diesel range

SEAT TO PROVIDE LOW-RENT SCIROCCO

Seat's Bocanegra concept will bear a production version. On the surface, this meets perfectly with typical Volkswagen group strategy. Volkswagen introduces the Scirocco, with all its history and dynamic energy, and later on, Seat, the underling, shows a lesser and less powerful derivative. 

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Think Volkswagen Polo GTI and Skoda Fabia vRS. No, the Bocanegra isn't identical under-the-skin to the Scirocco, but the Sport Coupe (as it could be called) buyer will feel rather smug with his savings and sharp looks.

Seat's new Ibiza, a fighter in one of Europe's most hotly contested segments. The Sport Coupe will build on whatever the Ibiza has to offer. Seat's are usually the offerers of inexpensive performance, somewhat stark interiors, and beautiful imagery. The Bocanegra bodes well for the theme to continue.