Aug 20, 2003 – At the last Geneva Show there suddenly appeared two very Steve Lewis like sketches at the SEAT stand, purporting to show a 'new generation MSV', or Multi Sport Vehicle. At Frankfurt we will meet the next station on the road towards a complete production model. SEAT is not coy, they don’t call the Frankfurt exhibit a concept, but a prototype for the 2004 Altea which will be some kind of cross over again.

The platform will probably be the same as that of the new Golf, even if the Altea wheelbase of 2578 mm is shorter than that of the Touran (The Golf’s wheelbase has not been released). But it is longer than any other current Seat model (apart from the Alhambra) so it is to be expected that the production version will seat four in more comfort than the prototype’s 2+2 configuration caters for. Four doors and a hatch will also see production, as will the distinct front with the cat’s eyes headlamps and the flowing lines that spring off the headlamps, flow downward over the doors to meet the rear wheel arches and which will characterise all new SEAT models.

Walter de’Silva brought with him the styling expression he had started on at SEAT when he moved to Audi last year. This is actually the first SEAT to be developed within the Audi Brand Group, which he created early last year.

The prototype measures 4292 x 1812 x 1552mm, uses a 150hp 2-litre FSI engine, has the SEAT-developed 'Dynamic Steering Response' and will be produced at the Mantorell factory in Spain. JWS