With the debut of the H2X Concept at the 2019 Geneva
Motor Show, Tata Motors confirmed that it’s working on a new entry-level
crossover. IAB’s digital illustrator Shoeb Kalania has created a rendering to
show how the production version (codename: Tata X445) may look like.
The Tata X445, also referred to as the 'Tata
Hornbill', will have a masculine expression with a high set bonnet, an imposing
front-end featuring an aggressive light structure and a muscular bumper, chunky
trapezoidal wheel arches, extra body cladding and straight lines. Pratap Bose,
Head of Design, Tata Motors, has said that about 80% of the concept version is
ready to go into production.
The rendering shows the crossover equipped with
bigger LED DRLs, closely positioned headlamps and fog lamps with a tri-arrow
pattern splitting them and pillar-mounted rear door handles. Several elements,
including the upper grille, lower grille, double-spoke alloy wheels and roof,
are in black colour for a sporty dual-tone look.
The Tata X445 will likely measure around 3.8 metres
in length, 1.8 metres in width and 1.6 metres in height, and have a
2.5-metre-long wheelbase. It will ride on the Advanced Modular Platform of the
Tata Altroz.
Under the hood, one can expect the newly developed
1.2-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine that will debut in
the Tata Altroz. A standard 5-speed manual transmission is a given, while an optional
5-speed automated manual transmission is unmissable. The 1.05-litre Revotorq
diesel engine is going out of production by March 2020, and so that’s obviously
out of question. The BS-VI compliant 1.5-litre unit of the Nexon will probably
be too big and expensive for a car of this class.
The production version of the Tata H2X Concept will
compete with the Maruti Ignis and the Mahindra KUV100. It is expected to debut
at the Auto Expo 2020.
