Tata 45X premium hatchback will likely go on sale in the second half of next year to rival Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Elite i20
Tata Motors has another busy year ahead in 2019 as the Harrier SUV will be followed by a premium hatchback rivalling Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo. The production model, having already been spotted testing several times, is based on the 45X concept showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo in February.
As the Harrier, the road-going hatchback will bear the Impact Design 2.0 philosophy and retains several styling details from its conceptual version. The Tata 45X, codenamed X451, will be based on the Alpha platform and it will also spawn a mid-size sedan (X452) in the near future to take on Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Honda City and Hyundai Verna.
The premium hatchback is expected to carry the production name Aquilla. According to a recent report emerged on the internet, the 45X will get a mild-hybrid system and won’t use the regular 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder Revotron petrol engine producing 85 PS and 114 Nm in the Tiago and Tigor.
Instead, the powertrain will get mild-hybrid technology, which will obviously aid in increased fuel economy while lowering down the emissions. If it turns out to be true, it could be a first in segment technology. It may get a 48 volt system to kick in during start/stop scenarios and aid in acceleration. With the 45X more likely to enter the domestic market only in the second half of next year, it will get the engines complying with BSVI standards.
The idle start/stop system could be pivotal in the mid-size sedan as the Ciaz facelift launched recently uses a brand new SHVS hybrid system with dual-battery setup. Tata’s technology could be developed at its technical centre in United Kingdom. We expect Tata to employ the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Revotorq diesel powering the Nexon making 110 PS and 260 Nm.
Transmission duties could be handled by the now familiar six-speed manual and six-speed AMT sending power to the front axle. The Tata 45X will also have several standard safety features like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, speed alert function and so on.