Lost icon inspires SEAT designer Donckerwolke

Things are changing at SEAT – and design is at the forefront of establishing VW Group's Spanish subsidiary as a exciting, sporty brand rather than a budget brand.

The latest evidence is the Bocanegra concept, unveiled at Geneva and giving a strong idea of what the next-generation Ibiza will look like. The car is the work of SEAT design director Luc Donckerwolke, and he's drawn inspiration for the car from one of the few original designs in SEAT's pre-VW history – the 1200S Bocanegra coupe that was built from 1974-1980.

“It's one of few design icons in SEAT's past, as we have a history of building Fiats under licence,” he said. “When I started working on the Ibiza two-and-a-half years ago I came across the original Ibiza of 1984 – but then I came across the Bocanegra, a car that had the same clean design of the Ibiza, but a car that nobody knows.”

In fact the car was based on the Fiat 128, but with a hint of the original Lancia Delta about its lines – plus a distinctive black 'nose' – a feature that has been replicated on Donckerwolke's new Bocanegra.

“The Bocanegra is not the Ibiza, it is part of the communication process that leads to the Ibiza. It has the same DNA, but here you see a more extrovert version. If this is Superman, the Ibiza will be Clark Kent!”

The car combines elements of the old Bocanegra and the 'new' SEAT design DNA created by Donckerwolke's predecessor Walter Da Silva - “so strong and charismatic”, he said, including the distinctive swooping panel line around the front wheel arch.

The Bocanegra's influence will continue in other future SEATs, especially a new coupe that will become a new flagship for the brand – an exciting prospect for Donckerwolke, whose CV includes the Lamborghini Murcielago and Gallardo supercars. “I think a coupe fits the brand,” he said. He said he would be “very tempted” to use the Bocanegra name on this car.

Donckerwolke is also working on a new large saloon for SEAT – a successor to the Toledo. This will be a much more up-market car, based on the Audi A4 platform. Donckerwolke said this would be less radical and less sharp than the Bocanegra. Instead it will be “more elegant and refined”.

He said: “I don't like to make clones of cars – so you won't see the same designs being scaled up or down. Every model will have its own identity.”