New Ibiza could be a hard ACT to follow

The new 1.4 TSI ACT engine in its Ibiza FR Edition has four cylinders, but if it only needs to use a couple of them to get along, it’ll do just that, significantly cutting down the amount of fuel it uses in the process.

The result is a car that will hit the 62 mph benchmark in under eight seconds, but is rated at 60.1 mpg on the combined cycle, says the Spanish manufacturer.

The new 140 PS ACT petrol engine replaces the 150 PS 1.4 TSI non-ACT engine in the Ibiza range, offering performance as close as makes no difference – it takes 0.2 seconds longer to hit 62 mph – but delivering a whopping 12.2 mpg average efficiency improvement and 30 g/km less CO2 – down to 109 g/km.

Available with a manual transmission only, the standard 1.4 TSI ACT FR 140 PS is also £1,015 cheaper than the 150 PS car it replaces, which came with a DSG automatic gearbox as standard.

The FR Edition, in addition to the usual FR specification, adds red seatbelts, red brake callipers, titanium-coloured 17-inch alloy wheels, matching coloured door mirrors, climate control and dark tinted rear windows. Available in SC and five-door body styles, the FR Edition costs £15,920 and £16,470 respectively.

The 1.4 TSI ACT is available in standard FR trim in all three body styles: SC, five-door and ST. In each body style, its list price represents a saving of £1,115 over the preceding 150 PS Ibiza FR.

The 1.4 TSI engine with Active Cylinder Technology shuts off the second and third cylinders at low engine speeds and when low torque outputs are required.

It does so seamlessly, and conversely it will re-activate the cylinders in undetected fashion when more torque is required.

The transition between two- and four cylinders takes less than 40 milliseconds and the system can save up to one litre of fuel over 60 miles of careful urban driving.

The Ibiza FR Edition and the Ibiza FR 1.4 TSI ACT are available to order now, for first deliveries during early June.