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Building on the 2000 and 2002 Salsa concepts, the Altea Prototipo is a near production-ready view of the all-new small MPV that is without a doubt the most unique Seat to date.
This long-awaited new entry for Seat was previewed by yet another concept, the MPV or Altea Prototipo, at the 2003 Frankfurt auto show. The concept, as well as the production model going on sale in mid-2004, is based on the new-for-2004MY Golf V. Seat expects the Altea to become one of its main products, alongside the Ibiza and Leon.
When it reaches showrooms wearing the Altea badge, it will ride on the latest Golf platform and incorporate cues from its Salsa show car predecessors from 2000 and 2002. The 2003 Frankfurt concept front features a large grille and Seat emblem and cat-eye headlights. The flowing lines of the side view will be common to Seat design in the future. The Altea is perhaps really the first Seat to truly make good Seat’s claim of being a unique alternative to Alfa Romeo. The car’s styling is fresh, different, and unmistakably Latin. And it’s very functional and practical, too boot.
The Altea Prototipo features a combination of sporty design, a dynamic driving experience, and the functionality of a mono-space interior layout. The concept backs up its sporty look with the first FSI application for Seat, using VW’s 148HP 2.0 FSI mated to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission. The concept’s nineteen-inch wheels are not likely to make production, unless on an option package, but the 2.0L FSI is likely to be one of the engines on offer.
The Altea is the first product developed after VW reorganized and moved Seat to the Audi Brand Group.