SEAT has unveiled the Ibiza five-door supermini, the most important new model in the Spanish car maker's recent history.

The newcomer's debut, at the firm's Martorell HQ near Barcelona, marks the start of a major product offensive from the ambitious Spanish brand which will, over the coming months, also see the debut of further Ibiza variants, as well as new saloon and estate contenders in the upper medium segment.

All-new from the wheels up, the bigger, new Ibiza five-door, SEAT has a range of big car' features to match its sharp styling.

The work of renowned ex-Lamborghini stylist Luc Donckerwolke, the new car offers a variety of options such as the availability of a new seven-speed DSG automatic/sequential manual gearbox, Hill Hold Assist, front fog lights with side illumination (cornering) function and combined Aux-in/USB connectivity for all manner of music devices.

Longer than the current model, it's more capacious, too, with improved rear seat legroom and a larger and more practical boot space which, at 292 litres with rear seats in place, is comfortably the largest in the supermini class.

Beneath the bonnet, this front-wheel drive motor will initially offer three petrol engine options: either a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder 70 horsepower; flexible 1.4-litre, 85 horsepower four cylinder or sporty 1.6-litre four cylinder, 102 horsepower. All three come mated as standard to a sweet-shifting five-speed manual gearbox, and all have undergone engineering modifications to ensure emissions fall comfortably below 160 g/km.

A direct-injection TDI Ibiza five-door will debut in due course, too. The car will have new head and thorax-focused front side airbags, and stability and traction control.