IBIZA is an island with a sunny disposition, so SEAT is planning to bring some Latin heat to the next generation model that bears the name.

The forthcoming SEAT Ibiza - a new upper-medium family saloon, due to make its public debut in 2009 - will share many design elements with the SportCoupe Bocanegra concept.

The perspex-nosed Bocanegra is the work of SEAT's new design director, Luc Donckerwolke, the former Lamborghini design chief, already noted at SEAT for his Tribu concept premiered to considerable acclaim at Frankfurt last year.

For his latest creation he has crafted a compact three-door body boasting a clear coupe-like silhouette that is given obvious added emphasis by its semi-transparent black front end.

Key features of the Bocanegra - which literally translates as "black mouth" - include: panoramic sunroof; door-mirror-mounted side indicators; LED light clusters; and overtly sporty rear "shoulders".

Under the bonnet of the concept lies a 1.4-litre TSI twin-charger (turbocharged and supercharged) petrol engine linked to a seven-speed DSG automatic/sequential manual gearbox promising potent performance and refinement.

In production versions of the Ibiza, this will be joined by a 70bhp 1.2-litre three cylinder and a 1.6-litre four cylinder 102bhp petrol.

All-new from the wheels up, the forthcoming Ibiza five-door will include features such as; 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 music devices.

Longer than the current model - the new Ibiza breasts the tape at 4.05 metres, versus the existing car's 3.97 metres and it has wider front and rear tracks (30 mm and 33 mm respectively) - if offers improved rear seat legroom and a significantly larger and more practical boot space at 292 litres.