Ibiza may be the place most Brits go to enjoy some excessive drinking – but its namesake in the automotive world is anything but drunk on fuel.
They simply don’t come much more frugal than the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive, which recently clocked up an impressive average fuel economy of more than 120mpg as part of a mammoth 1,186mile tour of 12 European countries.
The achievement sets a new record for the fuel-sipping Spanish supermini and was reached by Austrian economy driving specialist Gerhard Plattner. He set out from Cieszyn in Poland after the International Police Motor Corporation sealed the car’s bonnet and fuel filler. Then, with around 45litres of fuel at his disposal, he embarked on his tour of the 12 European states and drove through the cities of Mosty in the Czech Republic, Bratislava in Slovakia, Hegyeshalom in Hungary, Graz in Austria, Varazdin in Croatia, Maribor in Slovenia, Toblach in Italy, Innsbruck in Austria, Schaan in Liechtenstein, Zurich in Switzerland and Saint-Louis in France before finishing in Frankfurt, Germany.
The incredible fuel economy record was achieved through optimised aerodynamics, weight reduction and modifications to the 80PS 1.4 TDI engine’s electronic management.
Official statistics show the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive is capable of 92.4mpg on the extra urban cycle, 76.3mpg on the combined cycle and it has CO2 emissions at just 98g/km. It is exempt from road tax in the UK and costs £12,355.
