Five employees tell us what the SEAT Ibiza means to then, and they also share their excitement and pride on its anniversary THEY MADE IT POSSIBLE José Luis Valiente RTF of Ibiza – Arona line 1 “The SEAT Ibiza is my life. I joined the company just when production of the first generation began in SEAT Barcelona, then I moved to Martorell when production of the second generation began. I haven’t changed models. I’ve been with it for 36 years and for me it’s synonymous with friends and family, because this is where I’ve made many friends and where I met my wife.” María Isabel Pérez EM coordinaTOR “I always associate this model with the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, because it was the official car. Some of the vehicles used in the Games were later put up for sale, and my best friend bought one. I remember we always went out partying in that car. The car takes me back to my youth. And then I had my own SEAT Ibiza. It’s an iconic car.” Mercè Marqués CUPRA Motivation and Retention Projects “My parents gave me a SEAT Ibiza when I was about 20 years old. So for me it’s all about the freedom to start going out, a feeling of independence that also made me grow up and mature. I really enjoyed that car. Those were the best years of my life. Now I have a leasing car and I feel young again.” Manuel Capilla Supervisor WORKSHOP 10 – SECTION 3 “The SEAT Ibiza represents a lifetime for me. I joined the company 33 years ago and for most of my career, I’ve been linked to Line 1, which is where it’s made. The first generation was already being sold at that time and was a great success. I’ve witnessed the success of the following for over the years.” Palmira García SEAT COMPONENTS LOGISTICS “Twenty-three years ago, when I started going out with my current husband, we had a SEAT Ibiza that his mother lent him. We used to go everywhere with that car. That’s the first memory I have of this iconic model. And we’re still loyal to the model. We’ve just bought another one now.” The first generation SEAT Ibiza was a milestone for the company, marking the beginning of SEAT as an independent manufacturer. It was the first car developed entirely by the brand, drawing on its expertise and that of partners Giorgetto Giugiaro, Karmann and Porsche, who collaborated in the categories of exterior design, interior design and mechanics, respectively. Porsche, for example, contributed technology to the engines, highlighted by the famous ‘System Porsche’ badge, which the Ibiza would sport on the cylinder head cover. JOAN ROIG SEAT chassis development “I would highlight the first SEAT Ibiza’s ‘System Porsche’ engine as well as its design and sporty driving style, which we improved in subsequent generations until arriving at this fifth generation, in which we have incorporated innovations and new technologies to enhance the driving experience even more.” 1st generation AUTHENTIC ESSENCE The 1990s saw the arrival of the second generation of SEAT Ibiza. Once again designed by Giugiaro in close collaboration with the Martorell Design Centre, it became a more rounded, aerodynamic and sporty vehicle. This generation included more equipment and mechanical innovations. But its greatest contribution was the impulse it gave to SEAT’s Martorell headquarters. The launch of the car marked the start of operations at the plant. It was undoubtedly a historic moment for the brand. MIKEL PALOMERA MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SEAT SPAIN “The Ibiza has been the key to SEAT’s internationalisation. It is also one of the models that best reflects our values as a Mediterranean brand, young, fun and associated with music. It is the bestselling model in SEAT’s history, with more than 6 million units sold worldwide.” 2nd generation PROGRESSION OF A BESTSELLER The third generation SEAT Ibiza was presented at the Bologna Motor Show in 2001, representing a significant leap forward in terms of manufacturing, engineering, performance and design. Working with the Martorell Design Centre, legendary designer Walter de’Silva brought a new level of energy and sportiness to the model. The new version featured a truly striking silhouette that highlighted its increased agility. This generation saw the introduction of the new sporty FR versions. Pedro FONDEVILLA director of Planning, Pricing and CO2 at SEAT S.A. “The SEAT Ibiza has always meant freedom, especially for younger drivers. It has been incorporating innovations that were only present in higher segments, and it has obviously redefined sportiness. The third generation saw the first use of the FR trim, which is still available on all our cars.” 3rd generation SPORTY AND POWERFUL SEAT adopted a new approach for the fourth generation Ibiza. The development team worked to combine a new design language with some of the most innovative technologies available at the time. The new version debuted the ‘Arrow Design’ concept by designer Luc Donckerwolke, provided a very distinctive look to the front end. The Ibiza achieved a distinctive and very sporty appearance thanks to the use of geometric lines and the evolution of SEAT’s classic ‘Dynamic Line’, which extended along the sides. This generation was offered in 3-door, 5-door and estate body styles. MARTA MILÁN HEAD of ASSEMBLY LINE 2 “The SEAT Ibiza has not only raised the bar in terms of performance and design, it has also challenged us to evolve and innovate in manufacturing. We have grown together.” 4th generation TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION The fifth generation SEAT Ibiza emerged to meet changing customer demands and offer a highly technological product. It symbolises the brand’s passionate and dynamic style, although combined with digitalisation and clear environmental awareness. The Volkswagen Group’s entirely new MQB-A0 platform was used to develop the vehicle in Barcelona. Its interior is revolutionary, as the vehicle gives full control to the user, both inside and outside the passenger compartment. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay provide access to a wealth of functions and information, and natural language voice control makes interaction with the vehicle fully intuitive. JORGE DIEZ SEAT DESIGN DIRECTOR “The SEAT Ibiza is a true icon for all of us, because the designers who created and developed it, from the first generation to the fifth, were true masters, from Walter de’Silva to Giorgetto Giugiaro. They truly knew how to create a car with emotional design, very sporty lines and a youthful spirit.” 5th generation iconic design