Seat IBL Concept: The Future Of Sports Saloons

Frankfurt Motor Show 2011 saw a rush of media both print and online in covering the release of various manufacturer concepts; from the BMW i3 and i8 through to the Land Rover DC100. A car that didn't receive as much press however was Seat's IBL Concept but in fact this looks to be a promising break in Seat's DNA that should help it push the boundaries with refreshes of its current line-up.

The IBL Concept showcases a sports saloon and a fresh take on a market segment dominated by the likes of Ford's Mondeo plus cars in the executive saloon category. Seat have gone for a futuristic look with a wide-angle trademark arrow grille, black air intakes, slither LED headlights and large 20 inch single and double spoke alloy wheels.

It's power is also conveyed through its menacing stature. Aside from the muscular wheel arches and defined roofline, the IBL measures in at 4.67 metres in length making it a four-door premium vehicle. On the inside, the luxury continues with a sporty ambience, lots of leather and gizmos galore. This is a concept car however and it's often the futuristic interior additions that get the first chop.

What are our overall thoughts? We likey, more due to the fact that we could be seeing the styling cues from the IBL on more popular models such as the Leon. And in such a competitive market, we can see the exterior face appealing to a greater market and those looking for something different over most base-range models.