It was necessary to drive the Seat Ibiza Cupra to remember what was taken for granted in the 90s: not everything is numbers.
Born in the relatively distant year of 1986, I grew up contemplating the golden age of the pocket rocket. The G's, the Coupons, the GTI's and the XSI's. Remember? Of course yes. I didn't even need to mention the brands. How I miss engines with little more than a hundred horses, aided by somewhat temperamental chassis and suspensions – it was on these machines that I wrote some of the funniest memories of my youth.
Returning to the present, it was with my mind on the past that I tested the Seat Ibiza Cupra, equipped with the fiery 1.4 TSI engine with 180hp and the competent seven-speed DSG gearbox. That's right… 180hp. A figure that for just 20 horses does not reach two hundred horses. A number that despite everything – and the “despite everything” is 6.9 sec. from 0-100km/h and almost 230km/h top speed – it doesn't seem to impress anyone anymore.
In an era dominated by social networks and the dictatorship of numbers, no one loses breath when seeing 180hp in a technical sheet. And this can be seen in some derogatory comments that we are picking up on our Facebook.
Come on guys… Saying that “180hp is not enough” is almost an offense for a generation spent the youth collecting «changes» to buy the Cup’s and company, with “only” 120hp. “It's not the same thing Guilherme…” you will say. Well no, it isn't.
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The Seat Ibiza Cupra brings us the aura of that time but adds automatic air conditioning, a sound system worthy of the name, the cruise-control and a few more things that at 29 years old have already cost me to abdicate and that pocket rockets from that time they never dreamed of having. I tested it on a circuit, I tested it in Arrábida, I tested it in the city and when I realized I was 18 years old again.
The Cupra does well in all these environments, and for those looking for an "all-in-one" at moderate costs, the Seat Ibiza Cupra can be an excellent choice, not least because consumption is not prohibitive – I got an average of 7 .1 liters running without haste.
