Geneva Motor Show: SEAT shows off Altea Freetrack Concept

click the above image to view 35 high-res images of the SEAT Altea Freetrack Concept

We're fans of the SEAT Altea, though the smallish five-door hatch back isn't sold in the U.S. It's got great packaging, a unique though not ugly design, and there's even an FR model sporting corporate parent Volkswagen's venerable 2.0T FSI engine and a DSG transmission. SEAT is planning to stretch the Altea's scope a bit further when it releases an SUV version of the on-road MPV in the near future. The SEAT Altea Freetrack Concept you see here is a thinly veiled preview of SEAT's first production SUV.

Frankly, the Altea Freetrack Concept looks great lifted on its beefier suspension and larger wheels. It's got all the normal cute ute styling cues we'd expect like fender flares, a fuax skid plate beneath the front bumper and a full-size spare mounted on the rear hatch, but it doesn't look anything like SUVs we're used to thanks to its extreme cab-forward stance and virtual absence of front and rear overhang. Plus, it's motivated by an even more powerful version of the 2.0T FSI in the high-performance FR model producing 240 horsepower. As we've repeated so many times, sadly the Spanish automaker doesn't sell its stuff in the U.S., so no Altea Freetracks for us.

Check out or high-res gallery to view more angles of the SEAT Altea Freetrack Concept and find the official press release after the jump.

[Source: SEAT, Autoblog Spanish - live shots by Alberto Ballestin]