Bobbies take an interest in Autoblog UK first drive

This is the diesel version of SEAT's edgy-looking Ibiza FR, a warmed-up performance hatchback with a 2.0-litre TDI engine and more torque than a Porsche Cayman.

Rather than the sort of screaming high-revs persona we usually associate with conventional hot hatches, the diesel FR uses large swells of mid-range shove to thrust down the road. It'll do 0-62mph in a respectable 8.2 seconds but because it doesn't wail like a petrol hot hatch, and you don't thrash it until the valves pop out, it never really feels that fast. In fact it drives a bit like a tiny torque-laden grand tourer.

We proved as much on a bumpy Suffolk road, where the lack of real visceral thrill meant we were going quicker than usual and attracted the attention of a disgruntled copper who decided to offer some words of advice (or maybe he just wanted to look at the shiny new car?) after spotting us making progress around his county.