Along with the Tata Harrier, the production Tata 45X
(Tata X451) is also now in the testing phase of the product development.
DriveSpark reader Sijin Samuel has shared spy shots of the premium hatchback
that was spotted at a parking lot in Chennai recently.
The dramatic Tata 45X concept was developed in
Coventry, UK. The reason it was made larger than a typical Indian B-segment
hatchback was to show the upper limit of the platform. The concept vehicle is
4,253 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and 1,451 high. Its wheelbase spans a length of
2,630 mm.
The production 45X will measure no longer than 4,000
mm so that it attracts the least possible GST for ICE-powered cars. It will
have a more conventional design to guard manufacturing costs. Tata Motors is developing
it on the basis of its new Advanced Modular Platform, also known as the Alfa
platform.
Replacing the Tata Bolt, the 45X could come with a
newly developed BSVI-compliant 1.2-litre petrol engine. Demand for diesel
engines in small cars is expected to slow further owing to the high cost of the
exhaust treatment technologies to make an engine BSVI ready. In this scenario,
it will be interesting to see if there would be any demand at all for diesel
cars in the B segment in 2020-21.
Tata Motors may offer a 48-volt mild-hybrid system
for enhanced fuel economy and compliance, in petrol engine models of the 45X
and the Hornbill. Its European R&D facility (Tata Motors European Technical
Centre) had demonstrated two 48-volt mild-hybrid systems codenamed 'P0' and
'P2' in 2016.
The Tata 45X will go on sale in India in mid-FY2020
(August-November 2019) and compete with the Maruti Baleno, Hyundai i20 and
Honda Jazz.
