2004 will witness the launch of a new model, the SEAT Altea which, alongside the Ibiza and the León, is earmarked as the third pillar of the SEAT range. To be unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt International Motor Show, the prototype brings us closer to the silhouette of this new SEAT model, which signals a point of inflection in the history of the Spanish brand. The launch of the new model finally makes the Salsa concept, unveiled at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, a reality. From this moment onward, the character traits that identify all the members of the SEAT family will definitely prevail, thus hailing a new generation of models.
The distinct expressiveness of the new front end, with its “cat-eyes” (symbolising the headlamps with their variable iris), the shape of the bonnet and the broad radiator grille which proudly displays the brand trademark logo, will be a common denominator of the new SEAT products. The characteristic, lateral dynamic line will be another identifying trait. This line begins at the front wheel arch, curves upward over the doors and descends until the rear wheel hub.
In the Altea Prototipo, design and technology come together to shape a distinctly sporty vehicle, both in aesthetics and finish details as well as driving quality and performance. Its daring design, suggestive detailing and state-of-the-art technical solutions aim to achieve SEAT’s brand claim since the beginning of the new millennium - auto emoción.
But staging the Altea Prototipo means more than this - it means creating a new category within the current market segment. The new MSV definition (Multi Sport Vehicle) applies to an expressively dynamic people carrier arrangement, which on the Altea Prototipo comes across with a strong, wedge-shaped profile, reduced frontal section, lower ground clearance and special equipment - large diameter alloy rims, low profile tyres, mudguards, air intake vents, spoilers and exhaust pipes - that contribute to making it clear it can chew up the asphalt.
On the inside, numerous details help create a truly sporty atmosphere thanks to its 2+2 arrangement. The area surrounding the driver, where most of the on-board action lies, is perfectly differentiated. Everything is within grasp in the driver’s seat thanks to the wrap-around design of the controls and the console, a visual and practical bridging element between the front and rear passengers, whose folding backrests can increase carrying load if necessary.
However, the MSV concept also means especially dynamic sportiness. On the fully functioning Altea Prototipo, its brilliant performance is assured by a new, four-cylinder 2.0 FSI engine. For the first time, a direct injection petrol engine has been mounted on a SEAT model. Mated to a six-speed automatic and sequential Tiptronic gearbox, this 150 hp muscle delivers performance levels second to a pure-bred sports car, taking full advantage of every drop of petrol.
The Martorell Technical Centre has fitted the Altea Prototipo with the characteristic Agile Chassis or DSR (Dynamic Steering Response) of the SEAT models. This completely new chassis, featuring a new, multilink rear axle, delivers exceptionally efficient stability, steering and turning, assuring the fast steering response which is characteristic of the SEAT models. The prototype has also been equipped with a powerful brake system, whose elements are clearly visible through the stylised spokes of the 19 inch wheels.
It’s quite a character. And a reality.
BRAND IMAGE - SEAT DNA
It only takes one look to capture the emotion of new feelings. The expressive front end, with its cat-like stare; the features of the chassis, like flexed muscles; the dynamic lines and profiles, the solid proportions…everything on the SEAT Altea Prototipo proves to be suggestive, sporty, new and yet familiar at the same time.
And it’s no wonder. The shapes of the Altea Prototipo are inspired by the masterful lines hinted at since the Salsa concept. Its aesthetic resources have been evolved, stylised and adapted to the needs and limits of its actual construction to be applied to the design of the prototype, since from now on these will be the family traits that will identify the new SEAT products.
The front end takes on a new look, thanks to a set of slant-eyed, cat-like light clusters, and the remarkable size of the radiator grille, which improves cooling capacity and proudly lodges a big brand logo. Meanwhile, broad air vents beneath the grille strengthen its dynamic image.
The side view of the car will also serve as a backdrop for distinguishing the members of the SEAT family thanks to the characteristic line that caresses its flanks - the dynamic line that begins at the front spoiler, extends over the front wheel arch and continues gradually downward until the rear wheel hub.
The rear end features a broad hatchback and an outward positioning of the taillights. This set-up lends the rear end of the vehicle a look of great power and strength. Doubling as the boot handle, the large SEAT logo will also definitely maintain its status.
THE IDEA - MSV: Multi Sport Vehicle
Salsa, Salsa emoción, Tango…the SEAT concept cars can be considered the beginnings of the idea. The Altea Prototipo is the culmination of these concepts; the goal of one stage and the beginning of a new era. The SEAT Altea Prototipo signals a green light for the creation of a new brand image, a new style, with unmistakable characteristic traits. At the same time, the project that began with the dawning of the new millennium is gaining breadth.
The Salsa concept car established the basis for a viable, fully functional car. Wholly developed at SEAT’s Martorell Technical Centre with the most advanced 3D and rapid prototyping design programmes, this bold concept car spearheaded the idea of a single-space vehicle with suggestive, sporty lines, highly capable of adapting to the environment and to driving conditions. Seven months later, the Salsa emoción featured an interesting evolution of the concept into a greatly versatile, all-road vehicle. With great integrity, the later Tango represented the high performance, compact size roadster concept.
The Altea goes one step further. Featuring a more realistic configuration, the new prototype defines the basic parameters of not only a model that is closer to the definitive version, but of a new style of car that SEAT has christened MSV. A new category.
MSV stands for Multi Sport Vehicle and defines an idealised vision of a sporty people carrier. Something new. Not an evolution but an absolutely original design, suggestively sporty, with a breakthrough silhouette. And befitting this vision, it is equipped with the latest technology to deliver the highest performance - intelligent engine, agile chassis, sports suspension, high performance brakes. After all, racing is the stuff the Spanish brand’s genes are made of.
SHAPE AND DESIGN - Expression on two levels
The Altea Prototipo is the answer to new functional and aesthetic criteria. Without a doubt, it is a people carrier, since there is no visual distinction between the engine space, passenger compartment and boot. But its high wedge shape, compact proportions, finish detailing and bright red exterior give it a suggestive, extroverted look.
The Altea Prototipo displays an interesting, dualistic character on two clearly separate structural levels. On one hand, the dynamic line (which begins on the bonnet and slopes gradually downward until the rear wheel arches) lends a suggestively sporty look. On the other, the bright window design (influenced by the high waistline and slight tilt that curves toward the spoiler on the roof) expresses its highly practical essence.
Air brushes by softly over the skin of the Altea Prototipo thanks to its high wedge shape and the aerodynamic integration of several functional elements. The headlamps are protected beneath streamlined, cat-like polycarbonate shields; at rest, both windscreen wipers remain concealed next to the front pillars, and the rear door handles are flush with the surface.
The smooth lines are only interrupted by inevitable, difficult to conceal elements, such as the door mirrors, front door handles and air vents. The radiator grille and large intake vents on either side of the valance, for interior ventilation and brake cooling, feature a three-dimensional honeycomb mesh.
The rear end also features an attempt to integrate several elements. Anchored to the top of the rear hatch, the spoiler displays the third brake light and rear wiper, while a group of light emitting diodes on the bumper house the reverse lights and foglamps, and the light clusters nestle beneath a streamlined red plastic case.
The blunt rear end lends a coupe look to the Altea Prototipo, and at the same time suits the compactness of the exterior and gives good boot access.
Beefy mudguards, 19 inch wheels, wide tyres, low ground clearance and twin exhaust pipes, one at each end of the bumper, complete the sporty look on the SEAT Altea Prototipo.
THE INTERIOR CONCEPT - Air, light, water
Flexibility and sportiness are the qualities that best describe the character of the SEAT Altea Prototipo, whose five-door hatchback design aims for the highest expression of versatility.
On the inside, everything suggests quality, precision, functionality, luminosity and spaciousness, with minimalist resources on both the finish and in functional aspects, such as adjustable mood lighting or indirect ventilation from nozzles behind the dashboard module.
The passenger compartment features four independent, sporty design seats upholstered in a combination of leather and a technical nonslip fabric. The front seats are fully adjustable, while the rear seats offer two reclining positions as well as a full folding option for a flat cargo space.
The driver’s side is clearly distinct and fully equipped, and everything is within grasp, whether on the instrument panel or the central console, which acts as a bridging element between the front and rear passengers. Behind the gear lever on the console there is an integrated dispenser for water, soft-drinks or beverages, and the rear seats feature a built-in, folding screen for DVD viewing or video-games.
The passenger compartment is lined with two layers of highly technical materials. The background layer (used on the dashboard, instrument panel dials, side panels and headlining) is a warm grey colour. More up-close, the lining on the instrument panel, console and armrests is black, and features a texture achieved by laser technology inspired by carbon fibre, which produces an effect of visual depth. The visor over the instrument panel, steering wheel, console side trim and seat side strips are black leather.
Unpolished aluminium can be seen on several elements, such as the steering wheel spokes (with the new SEAT logo outlined in red), levers, ventilation nozzles, slide-out boot mouldings (for easy loading of suitcases and packages) and switches around the radio-navigator screen.
There are three independent instrument dials, the rev counter in the centre, the speedometer on the right, and a combination fuel gauge, water temperature and multi-function screen on the left. On all three, the needles remain in a vertical position when idle, with the zero value where the 6 is on the face of a clock.
The door panel design echoes the silhouette of the exterior and some of its elements, such as the outer door handles. The indoor handle on the front door is visible, while the rear handle is integrated in the armrest, so that no protruding elements interfere with the load on-board.
More than just a simple loading area, the boot on the Altea Prototipo can be defined as a well-organised space. A partitioned double bottom makes it easy to store small and medium-sized objects that would otherwise be left to roll around. Furthermore, the passenger compartment has several handy object carriers with uncluttered design, such as the mesh nets on the door panels.
TECHNIQUE AND PERFORMANCE - True sports car
SEAT’s positioning within the Audi brand Group (alongside Audi and Lamborghini), implies product development with sporty qualities. On the fully functional Altea Prototipo, sportiness and functionality overlap and complement each other in every detail to produce a practical yet high-performance vehicle, capable of transmitting deep-felt emotions.
In order to achieve the excellent dynamic qualities of the SEAT Altea Prototipo, engineers at the Technical Centre worked on three basic aspects: a high performance engine, a sporty chassis and a structure with a low centre of gravity.
A breakthrough on the Altea Prototipo is direct injection petrol FSI technology. The highly efficient, compact two-litre, four in-line cylinder engine produces 150 hp at 6,000 rpm and transmits its power to the front axle by means of a six-speed automatic and sequential Tiptronic gearbox with tight ratios.
The chassis development started with a completely new platform that shares a few modules with the new Audi A3. Suspension is independent on both shafts (with front McPherson geometry and a sophisticated multilink rear arrangement) and it incorporates Agile Chassis or DSR. Already tested on the new Ibiza, Córdoba and León Cupra R, this concept combines a special suspension rating (with stiff shock absorbers and more flexible coils), firm elastic buschings and an electronic programme that modulates power steering according to driving and steering speed. The result is much more precise handling, greater acceleration feedback and a quicker response to the driver’s demands. If needed, the ESP recognises driving errors and maximises roadholding stability.
The brake system has also been adapted to handle increased demand. The four ABS controlled, large ventilated discs are clearly visible through the big 8.5J x 19 inch wheels, with their elegant, new five-spoke design and visible bolts. The centre of each rim displays a new SEAT logo outlined in red.
Lastly, in order to improve roadholding, the centre of gravity had to be lowered as much as possible. Quite high on a conventional people carrier, this usually results in unwanted roll and drifting off-course. However, the Altea’s compact design, low ground clearance and passengers’ lowered seating position all produce a suitable centre of gravity to perfectly match the Agile Chassis design.
LIGHT CLUSTERS - Innovative design
One of the elements that has attracted most attention on the Salsa, Salsa emoción and Tango concept cars has been the architecture and design of their headlamps and sidelights. Some of the innovative solutions previewed on them have become a reality, as can be seen on the Ibiza headlamps.
Beneath the catlike stare of the SEAT Altea Prototipo lurks new lighting technology - variable iris, double function headlamps and Luxeon LED sidelights and indicator repeaters.
The novel lighting system patented by SEAT is based on a fixed module with associated elements (that is, the bulbs and reflectors do not change position), producing a perfect concentration of the light beam and greater mechanism compactness. The headlamp is made up of a reflecting surface for each function (dipped and high beam), only one gas discharge light bulb, and a radial-opening diaphragm (like the iris of an eye), controlled by a small electric motor.
Its operating principle is simple: when the diaphragm is closed, light from the bulb only reflects off the front surrounding reflector, resulting in a dipped beam. When the diaphragm is open, light also reflects off the rear reflector, producing a powerful high beam. Such good lighting is produced that foglamps are unnecessary.
The system not only offers functional, space-saving advantages, but aesthetic ones as well - the aura-like lighting effect lends greater expression to the new Altea Prototipo cat-eyes.
Furthermore, the sidelight and indicator repeater module also benefits from new technology. It uses two powerful Luxeon LEDs, cooled by electric ventilation for air recirculation. The indicator LED faces forward, and the sidelight LED faces a concentric reflector at the rear. The taillights use similar technology, but a single element contains a concentric arrangement of sidelights, indicator repeaters and brake lights.
Entries (RSS)