Automobile vehicle seat adaptable to accommodate a child

An automobile including at least one seat, the seat comprising:

• a seat back;
• and
• a seat pan comprising an approximately horizontal seating surface extending forward from the seat back to a forward limit,
• wherein the seating surface comprises a fixed seating surface and a mobile front section that spans at least a portion of the forward limit,
• the front section can move between a raised position in which it is aligned with the fixed seating surface, and a tilted position in which the front section is tilted down below the fixed seating surface so as to form a ridge with the fixed seating surface that is substantially parallel with the forward limit,
• the seat pan further comprises a frame, a separately formed panel support mounted on the frame, and a panel mounted so as to pivot around a transverse axis on the panel support,
• the front section is connected to the panel,
• the panel is hinged on the panel support, and
• the seat further comprises:
• return means that tend to maintain the panel in the raised position;
• and
• locking means to lock the panel in the tilted position, said locking means of the seat automatically locking the panel in the tilted position when that position is reached, and releasing the panel when downward pressure is again applied to the tilted panel.