If you’re looking for hot hatch fun, then a three-door with a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine and a snappy six-speed manual gearbox sounds like a really promising start. Throw in revised suspension including two-phase dampers and this should be ticking lots of boxes.

That new engine, which replaces the 1.4-litre turbo predecessor, really does suit. Surprisingly it brings a maturity to the drive, helped by the broad spread of power delivery. There’s torque and power in plentiful supply for most occasions although this is not exactly an outright animal.

The handling matches, with well-damped handling that firms up as speeds rise. Sure, it’s firm, but that’s what you want in a hot hatch. However, it’s not jarring and it’s a pretty easy day-to-day car compared to some of its competitors.

Braking, aided no doubt by having red calipers, has been upgraded and it definitely shows when you press on the middle pedal. Steering too is very well weighted, even when you’re thrashing it about, although some more feedback of what it’s up to would be most welcome.

Inside things are a bit of a letdown. It’s all rather monochrome without much chrome. It should be hard-wearing but that’s about all in its favour. However, the front is a comfortable place to be with two good seats. Things deteriorate as you head to the rear, and then again as you look at the small boot, but really this is about the pair in the front more than anyone else.

There’s plenty of new tech too, with a standard 5in screen. However, there is the welcome option of a 6.5in screen, along with Bluetooth, USB and DAB as standard. Even so, you don’t need sausage fingers to find some of the icons a bit small.

This is a major upgrade, and it all works. The Cupra is easier to drive and more powerful – the two things being linked – and the manual transmission adds a bit more sense of awareness to the hot hatch experience. Handling and braking are all improved and there’s not much not to like.

But compared to say the VW Polo GTI (which also has this engine set-up) the Cupra lacks a bit of class, and compared to the Ford Fiesta ST it lacks some handling prowess. But it is more comfortable and a solid alternative to other hot hatches. Perhaps we’ll have to wait for the actual price to be announced before we can all make a decision on whether it warrants a place in the garage.

Seat Ibiza Cupra

Location: Barcelona

On sale: January 2016

Price £18,400 (est)

Engine 4 cyls, 1798cc, turbocharged petrol

Power 189bhp at 4300rpm

Torque 236lb ft at 1450rpm

Gearbox6-spd manual

Kerb weight 1260kg

Top speed 146mph

0 62mph6.7sec

Economy 47.1mpg (combined)

CO2 rating & BIK tax band 139g/km, 22%