Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra

My pride and joy is a Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra which is a Special 30th Anniversary edition of the original Seat Sport Bocanegra from 1975-80, Gemelo Cargador, It's a 1.4TSI Twincharger (Supercharger & Turbo) with a 7speed DSG box on paddle shifters, They're quick and a joy to throw around... Isn't that what cars should be about??

Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra
Alan Cowen - Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra

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Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra SA (Revisited) 

Alan Cowen 

Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra SA

Instagram: @That_Satin_Boc

Photography: @Danip.photography

I am a Building Fabric Engineer from Greater Manchester, around 18 months ago StanceAuto found me and my Bocanegra at an ExtremeBHP meet up and we made the magazine feature, Now admittedly the car or me (or both) was in two minds of what and where it was going in terms of the aesthetics plus I was at the start of it's tuning journey so I was never really settled on my feature hence this revisit.

My interest in the car scene first peaked in my late teen's when a fellow college student had a fully modded Vauxhall Corsa C, body kit, wheels, interior...the full work's from that point I began to pick up the Max Power/Fast Ford & Redline mag's every month and I was hooked. I've only been back around the car scene for a year or so now after a long spell in Music & DJing.

My pride and joy is a Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra which is a Special 30th Anniversary edition of the original Seat Sport Bocanegra from 1975-80, Gemelo Cargador, It's a 1.4TSI Twincharger (Supercharger & Turbo) with a 7speed DSG box on paddle shifters, They're quick and a joy to throw around... Isn't that what cars should be about??

The Bocanegra is one in its own as they only had a 3000 unit run worldwide over a decade ago with roughly 550 coming to the UK shores and at last count less than 360 left registered on UK roads. Many early engines suffered problems with most now broken for parts or scrapped but there are still some good runner's out there if they've been well looked after. I've seen very few together at car meet's which says a lot for how rare and sought after they are quickly becoming. I personally went for the Dakota Red as it is by far the nicest colour they come in being the only other choice was white in Bocanegra spec.

So what's been happening in the time between then and now?? 

Well.....The 1.4tsi twin-charged tuning scene is very temperamental with many varied opinions on how and where to go for parts/tuning and genuine factual knowledge.

 I have spent a great deal of time looking into the tuning aspects of the 1.4 twinchargers and made my own choices based on years of tried/tested and failed method's from past & present owner's without making their mistakes, although considering the engine's reputation when I bought the car I did tell myself "stage 1 and that's it!" though after 12 months of ownership it was evident that I had a good healthy engine to play with......... so play with it I did.

My tuning journey started with a trip to TGS (Top Gear - Stockport) for a very nicely made 2.5" mandrel-bent stainless steel downpipe with a 200 cell sports cat, This mod alone woke the engine up a great deal which was proven once I put it back on the rollers at DC (206hp base run).

At DC, Dan worked his magic and pulled a consistent 226HP/331NM across back to back power runs, With then engine happy and that tiny K03 sat smack in the middle of its efficiency window there wasn't any need to push it anymore and in all honesty, I had a figure in mind of 220 so I was more than pleased with Dan's results.

Content with the power figure I then set about changing the Boc's looks and implementing my satin theme. Vents, diffusers and mirror cap's in at The Paint Haus for a strip down and repaint...What a difference these made for the clean look I was aiming for.

Then came the most anxious mod I had planned, A date with VENTED's Nick Wiley...There's nothing more unnerving than someone turning to you to ask "How does it feel to have a complete stranger cut holes in your untouched bonnet??" while they have a jigsaw in hand already halfway through it!!....

Absolutely worth it though those XKR vents compliment the bonnet lines so well!!

The Boc then spent a weeks holiday back at The Paint Haus, Initially, this was just a front end tidy up to remove my DIY black lip and stone chips however my mind ticking away I wanted that extra bit of subtle difference to set my Boc apart from the rest which is where the Gloss to Satin front bumper idea was born, personally, I think they all should have been this way from the factory as it looks 1000 times better but I will settle for just mine...Obvs!! Other added work came in the style of the flushed boot spoiler join line which looks amazing with the wrap (more on that next) and the additional colour matched RDX Splitter from the Maxton one I had previously.

Topping the theme off nicely (pun intended) was a visit to the lovely ladies at Brand-It NW for that clean, slick-looking satin black roof wrap that also incorporates the boot spoiler, Honestly, I look at it every day and still think it's a thing of beauty.

"Gemelo Cargador".....Again just a touch of the difference to the usual tuning shop/car group advertising decals you see on most cars, While waiting for my visit to Brand-it I got thinking about the Spanish heritage and translation of Bocanegra meaning Black Mouth, So in keeping with that theme the Spanish translation of Twin Charger (It's power train) is "Gemelo Cargador" and I thought yeah, why not, different, one of a kind.

 I must admit I do get confused look's from onlookers trying to read the graffiti font but I love it.

When is a project car ever finished??.....a few months of enjoying the car, attending meet's, show's and even taking to the track to kick its head in (it loved every minute with no issues) a friend that shall remain nameless whispered in my ear "hybrid".....

3 months on and some shopping around looking at hybrids and previous builds (as there are very few currently in the UK) there really was only one place to go to VENOM TURBOs. Based out of Leeds with over 40 year's combined knowledge and experience of r&d in turbos these guys are smashing it out of the park every time.

After dropping into their shop for a chat it was a "Shut up and take my money!!" moment. 3 weeks of build time and I was back at Venom to collect what can only be described as a work of art....my Venom Hybrid K03!! what a gem!! 

The build consists of a K04 billet turbine wheel with extended tips, a K04 compressor wheel with cut back blades, 360 Thrust Bearing, all fully machined out for hi-flow performance plus a host of many other upgrades and rated for 280hp upwards.

Oh, My Days...I was in love!!

Eventually, I had the venom K03 fitted along with new aux/supercharger belts & tensioners, a full-service incl fresh Denso plugs, millers oil, filters and a new stock boost diverter valve, Then with healthy bedding in period, I was back darkening the door of DC Performance for the final time.

Knowing what unproven guesstimate numbers were floating around the internet from previous/current builds, I asked Dan to set it up with reliability/usability in mind rather than just throwing a bunch of boost and fuel at it to see what it makes.

Once again Dan does not disappoint.........

261HP/ 361NM

Happy as F....... with the results, SOOOO much power & torque right to redline....it's unreal for a little 1.4.....It's a proper angry little street beast!!

Thanks again to StanceAuto for the feature revisit.

Full Mods list

Engine

  • Custom ECU & TCU Hybrid remap running at 261HP & 361NM by DC Performance (Warrington)
  • K03 Hybrid Turbo & Manifold by Venom Hybrid Turbos (Leeds)
  • Stock airbox with Pipercross high flow filter/modified stock intake scoop
  • Forge Motorsport Silicone Boost Hoses
  • Airtec Intercooler
  • NGK U5002's Coilpacks
  • Denso IK22 plugs
  • Custom 2.5" downpipe W/200 Cell sports cat by TopGear-Stockport (TGS)
  • Cobra Catback (Non-Res) 2.5" System

Suspension/Handling/Brakes

  • Lowered 35/40mm on Stance Street+ coilovers/ Stance shortened links
  • Whiteline Rear ARB
  • Powerflex lower dogbone gearbox mount & Front ARB bushes
  • Brembo Extra Discs & Pads (312 Front/256 Rear), 
  • Audi TT (8n) (Front brake upgrade by previous 1st owner
  • Standard 17's powder-coated in Anthracite/shadow black wrapped in Toyo Proxes TR1s 215x40's
  • Callipers refinished in White

ICE/Cosmetics

  • JVC Headunit/ Vibe Black air 10" sub & mono amp
  • Alpine SPG 17cm 240W upfront
  • Jag XKR Vents supplied & installed by Vented by Nick Wiley
  • RDX Vairo front splitter
  • Seat OEM door sills with boc decals
  • Kill All Wiperz rear wiper delete
  • Dark-Ice Designs bonnet gas struts
  • Fan jet windscreen washers
  • Smoked side repeaters
  • Autoworx black aluminium paddle shift extensions
  • TurboSmart boost gauge
  • Acrylic Boc front lettering by AT Designs
  • Black satin paintwork on rear diffuser/vent pods, mirror caps, front bumper/grills & flushed rear spoiler boot line by The Paint Haus (Bredbury)
  • Satin black roof wrap & decals by Brand-It NW

Dream cars are a tough one to answer as they've changed through the years...... My early 20's self would say an Escort Cossie, but now I really adore the BMW M2 Competition in Sunset Orange.... just a gorgeous looking motor.

With that this about wraps things up to the current day, so thank you for taking to time to read my feature and I'd also like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in my Bocanegra's build from stock to now.

What do you think? leave your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page

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