The production version of the Tata H5X Concept that
made its debut at the 2018 Auto Expo in February will be called the Tata
Harrier reports Autocar India. The SUV will reportedly land before the end of
2018 followed by a market launch in early 2019.
The name 'Harrier' has been thrown around in the
past. Before its official debut at the Auto Expo, a report claimed that it
could be christened Harrier. It has been used internally as a codename for
vehicle a platform by Tata Motors. Toyota has an SUV called the Harrier sold in
Asia, but not India.
The report adds that the company will be announcing
the name in the coming days. The Tata Harrier will make its official debut in
November 2018. However, sales won't commence until early 2019, as reported in
May. The SUV continues to be spotted testing on public roads as evident from
the fresh shots shared by IAB reader Gaurav Sharma.
The Tata Harrier will be the first product to follow
the Impact Design 2.0 language, a brainchild of Tata Motors design chief Pratap
Bose. It will retain 80-85% of the concept's styling as it transitions over to
production form. A spy shot shared last month shines more light on the exterior
of the upcoming SUV.
Underpinning the Tata Harrier is the Land Rover
Discovery Sport's platform albeit in a revised, cost-down state. Power comes
from a 2.0 L Multijet II diesel engine sourced from Fiat. A past report
suggests that aside from a 6-speed manual transmission, the SUV will also get a
9-speed ZF-sourced automatic gearbox. A petrol variant of the Tata Harrier is
on the cards. A hybrid option for the future may be planned as well.
The Tata Harrier will be gunning for the Hyundai
Creta and entry-level variants of the Jeep Compass when launched. Expect
aggressive pricing from Tata to the tune of INR 10-15 lakhs (ex-showroom).
