The first design studies relating to the AGV were made in 1998. An AGV design, initially named "TGV 400" was presented in Barcelona in early 2000 as part of Alstom's bid to supply high-speed trains for the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line. Initial specifications were for a train with distributed traction (total power 7.2 MW), seating 359 in a train 180 metres long, with a version including eddy current brakes with a top speed of , and a tilting version with a top speed of . The design would retain the articulated Jacobs bogie of the TGV.