IndianAutosBlog's artist, Shoeb Kalania, has created
a digital mockup of the Tata Hornbill micro SUV, based on a design sketch shown
in a Tata Motors backgrounder for the Auto Expo 2018 which took place this past
February.
The Hornbill, codenamed Tata X445, takes aim at the
Maruti Ignis and Mahindra KUV100 when it comes out in 2021. The Hornbill was
earlier planned as a 2022 launch, but the company has reportedly advanced it a
year owing to the segment's potential. Another reason could be because No.2
player Hyundai is keen to have a car in this segment post the QXi sub-4 meter
SUV's introduction.
The Tata Hornbill will ride on the ALFA platform
which marks its debut on the upcoming Tata X451 premium hatchback next year.
Power is likely to come from a new generation 1.2-liter petrol engine, which
could feature an SHVS-like mild hybrid system minding the upcoming CAFE
(Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) norms. However, a diesel variant is
unlikely given the declining trend of small diesel cars due to the price of
diesel fuel and the cost structures related to a BS6 compliant small diesel
engine.
The Maruti Ignis diesel was discontinued earlier
this year owing to poor demand, another reason why Tata won't risk introducing
a diesel variant on the Hornbill. Besides, Tata's small cars, the Tiago and
Tigor, have customer acceptance mainly for their petrol variants (over 82
percent buyers preferred petrol variants). However, we imagine that the micro
SUV would offer manual and automated manual gearboxes.
Expect prices for the Hornbill to start in the
region of INR 5 lakhs, ex-Showroom, New Delhi.