Tata had quite a presence at the Auto Expo 2023 in Delhi, India, bringing four concept cars and three new variants of existing models. More importantly, the concepts – including a trio of SUVs – were not design studies, but previews of future production vehicles set to arrive in the next couple of years. Starting with the star of the show, the Tata Sierra EV has nothing to do with the GMC Sierra but is a reincarnation of an Indian off-roader that remained in production between 1991 and 2003. This is the second concept of a Sierra EV following the first one from 2020 but looks a lot more refined and production-ready this time around.
The five-door SUV looks surprisingly
sleek, with clean surfacing, and rugged details like the skid plates and the
boxy wheel arches, alongside modern touches including the full-width LED
lighting units and the flush door handles. The B-pillar and the rear windows
are a reference to the old three-door Tata Sierra, but similarities pretty much
end there.
The interior has a minimalist design with
different textures for the touch surfaces. The dual 10.25-inch screen digital
cockpit looks ready for production, but the design of the seats and the ambient
lighting create a futuristic atmosphere. Legroom for the rear passengers
appears to be more than ample, while there’s a large sunroof, plants on the
rear doors, and moss on the dashboard. The production version of the Tata
Sierra EV will be offered in both fully electric and ICE-powered variants,
based on Tata’s ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) architecture. Local media
report that the market launch is expected in 2025, as one of the many Tata Gen
2 EVs that will debut in India within the next two years.
The next SUV concept is the Tata Harrier
EV. As suggested by the name, it previews the zero-emission variant of the
Harrier compact SUV. The exterior design is a lot more modern than the already
available ICE-powered model, thanks to the redesigned front and rear bumpers,
the slimmer LED lighting units, and other updates, including the flush door
handles. The Tata Harrier EV will be based on an electrified version of the
OMEGA-Arc (Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced Architecture) which is
derived from the D8 platform underpinning the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Unlike the ICE-powered Harrier which is FWD-only, the EV will offer AWD thanks
to dual electric motors. The debut of the production model is expected in 2024.
Tata also showed a new version of the
Curvv concept, this time with a combustion engine under the bonnet. The
ICE-powered variant of the coupe-SUV looks very similar to the EV concept that
was unveiled in April 2022. Changes include the redesigned bumper with more
intakes, the conventional mirrors, and the red exterior shade. The Tata Curvv
will ride on the Gen 2 Nexon architecture, which is compatible with electric
and combustion powertrains. According to the latest reports, the ICE-powered
model will be offered with turbocharged 1.2-liter and 1.5-liter engines. The Indian
automaker also exhibited the Avinya concept. The EV with the unconventional
proportions blurring the lines between minivans and hatchbacks was originally
introduced last year. It is also previewing a production model set to arrive in
2025. This one however will be based on the all-new Gen 3 architecture that
will underpin many future EVs allowing a driving range of over 500 km.
Besides the fancy concept cars, Tata had
some news concerning its current lineup. The coolest addition is the Tata Altroz
Racer, a new variant of the Altroz supermini featuring sporty styling cues and
a more powerful engine. The turbocharged 1.2-liter petrol engine produces 118
hp and 170 Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed
manual gearbox. As the new flagship trim, the Tata Altroz Racer has pretty
generous standard equipment for the segment, including 16-inch alloy wheels,
six airbags, a 10.25-inch infotainment, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, an
electric sunroof, ventilated seats with synthetic leather upholstery, a
wireless charging pad, and rear vents for the air conditioning.
Finally, Tata shoed iCNG variants of the
Altroz supermini and the Punch urban SUV set to debut in India later this year.
The highlight is the turbocharged 1.2-liter engine running on CNG fuel. The
models have twin-cylinder CNG tanks at the back, which according to Tata do not
reduce the boot space compared to their petrol-powered counterparts.