Tata Motors is working on a new premium PV line-up, which includes a Maruti Baleno rival. According to a report from The Times of India, this hatchback will arrive in the second half of 2019.

The latest development was revealed to the business paper by Tata Motors CEO and MD Guenter Butschek. “In the second half of the year (2019), we will launch the premium hatch 45X based on the Alpha platform,” he said. He was pointing to the production Tata 45X concept unveiled to the world at Auto Expo 2018 and showcased at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show as well.

The Tata 45X is a radically designed concept for a B-segment vehicle. It measures 4,253 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width and 1,451 in height. It has a 2,630 mm wheelbase. It is not as close to production as the Tata H5X concept, although signature design elements are bound to stay. The showroom model’s length will not exceed four metres so that it can qualify as a small car for attracting lower tax.

The Tata 45X will arrive as the first AMP (Advanced Modular Platform) car from Tata Motors. The company may offer it with 1.2L turbocharged petrol and 1.5L turbocharged diesel engines at launch. AMP is ready for EVs, and we do not see a reason the company not considering an electric variant early next decade.

The Tata H5X concept will likely replace the Tata Bolt. A sedan version of this model is expected to break cover in 2020 to challenge the Toyota Vios and the Honda City.