Tata H5X production version spotted testing again
The production version of the Tata H5X concept SUV, first shown at the 2018 Auto Expo, has been spotted testing again. The heavily camouflaged car in these images looks to be the smaller 5-seater version, unlike the 7-seater car seen recently. The front three-quarters view in these images is almost identical to the concept but with the wheel arches, bumpers and side skirts being toned down to make them more viable for production. The lighting arrangement also seems to have not been changed too much, although how much of the aggressive detailing of the show car carries over remains to be seen. Incidentally, the S-Cross beside it in the image gives an indication of the substantial size of the car.
The production H5X will be powered by the Multijet II engine from FCA, as seen in the Jeep Compass, in two states of tune - 140PS for the 5-seater version and 170PS for the 7-seater. Both two and four-wheel drive will be available and transmission options will be a 6-speed manual and automatic. The 5-seater will be launched by mid-2019 and should come in the Rs. 9 to 15 lakh price bracket.
The new SUV will be based on Jaguar Land Rover's entry-level SUV platform, variations of which support cars like the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jaguar E-Pace and the Range Rover Evoque. Tata's version, called Omega-Arc (Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced Architecture), will involve the use of cheaper materials and components to keep costs down.
Tata H5X concept at 2018 Auto Expo
The exterior design of the production car will follow Tata's Impact Design 2.0 showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. So, a slimmer front grille and lights, aggressively contoured side profiles, steeply raked roofline and large wheel sizes can be expected. The interior also will have to be the best ever fitted to a Tata car and build on the progress the firm has been making in this aspect.
The production car, when launched, will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Jeep Compass. Tata had been in a rut until sometime back and is now slowly turning things around with cars like the Tiago, Tigor and Nexon. While these successes have been in the sub-10 lakh end of the market, the new SUV will be the company's first serious contender in the mid-size crossover segment.
Image Source: Rushlane
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