Insiders at the VW-owned...

Insiders at the VW-owned company have been forced to admit that they are working on a 4x4 version of the Altea, after our spies snapped shots (inside this week"s mag) of a top-secret prototype.

The versatile newcomer offers a taste of the go-anywhere ability which has made off-roaders such a big hit over the past few years, but without the expensive running costs and bulky dimensions - and SEAT has high hopes for it.

At first glance, this car resembles a standard Altea, yet closer examination reveals a raised ride height and deeper sill below the door. In addition, the front bumper has been reshaped to give the SEAT a more aggressive nose.

Technology will be shared between the 2007 Altea and its VW sister model - the all-road Golf. This car is expected to be called the Marrakesh, and will be more expensive than the Spanish offering.

Both variants will be equipped with a four-wheel-drive transmission based on Volkswagen"s 4Motion system. For those buyers who demand the chunky looks but would prefer to keep costs to a minimum, a two-wheel-drive version of the SEAT is also tipped to join the line-up. Meanwhile, engines will be shared with the standard Altea, with 1.6 and 2.0-litre FSI petrol and 2.0 TDI diesel variants likely to be most popular.

Inside, the newcomer uses the conventional car"s dash, but the seat trim and colour schemes are likely to take on a more rugged appearance to match the exterior. Expect production models to come with more aggressive plastic side mouldings to boost the SUV image.

The crossover of a 4x4 and a compact MPV looks set to be the next big thing. Hot on the tracks of Ford"s Focus C-MAX 4x4 - revealed by Auto Express in Issue 879 - SEAT is hoping to get in on the new craze from the start.

However, Ford, VW and SEAT have all been beaten by Renault. It was the first maker to build this kind of "soft-roader", with its Scenic RX4 in 2000 - although it doesn"t offer an AWD version of any of its existing MPVs.