Exclusive: Updated Tata Nexon Shows Up Its Face For The First Time

The updated Tata Nexon is expected to go on sale later this year with BSVI compliant petrol and diesel engines

A test mule of the Tata Nexon spied on higher altitudes has caught our attention. The image comes from perhaps Ooty as the camouflaged prototype shows up its face for the first time. Earlier internet reports suggested that the facelifted Nexon would adopt Impact Design 2.0 philosophy that debuted in the Harrier and subsequently followed by Altroz and H2X based micro SUV.

However, it does not appear to be the case as the front fascia and side profile look identical to the existing model. The test mule runs on the 16-inch silver machine cut alloy wheels found in the top-spec variants with similar design as well. This makes us think that the prototype may only be testing the BSVI versions of either 1.2-litre Revotron petrol or 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel engine.

With BSVI emission standards less than a year away from getting implemented, carmakers are working behind the curtain overtime to upgrade their engines and it will lead to the phasing out of some of the popular diesel powertrains sold in India due to high costs involved in the process compared to petrol units.

It could heavily impact the sub Rs. 10 lakh segments as companies will have to proactively make changes without losing their price advantages. For an aggressively priced SUV like Tata Nexon, whose sales ratio between petrol and diesel variants, would not have a huge difference, upgrading the oil-burner to meet the stringent BSVI norms will be certainly a challenge.

While Maruti Suzuki is effectively phasing out diesel engines in its domestic portfolio, Ford India has confirmed that it will continue to sell its diesel range. Tata might pursue the same route as Ford especially on its SUVs like Nexon, Harrier and the upcoming Blackbird bound for 2021.

In a fresh report, it has been said that the Altroz will only be retailed with a detuned 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel engine used in the Nexon initially making 93 PS and 210 Nm compared to the SUV’s 110 PS and 260 Nm. It will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission instead of a six-speed unit seen in the Nexon. Moreover, a petrol engine will only arrive later with 102 PS and 140 Nm power and torque outputs respectively.