The Tata Harrier SUV will go on sale in early 2019 with five-seat configuration; powered by FCA-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine
Tata Motors’ all-new premium SUV is just months away from launching as the Harrier will make debut in January or February 2019 to address the customers seeking the compact segment currently led by Hyundai Creta that enjoys over 10,000 unit sales every month on average.
The monocoque SUV has eagerly been anticipated and is expected to give tough competition to Creta with a seven-seat following later. Our previous rendering based on spy shots of the production model showcased what is hiding under the camouflage and now we have prepared another digital image based on Tata Nexon’s Moroccon blue colour.
The Harrier, just like every other colour we have rendered it with looks appealing in blue, will come with advanced in-car connectivity and premium interior as well. The five-seater is the first model to be based on ‘Impact Design 2.0’ philosophy and is expected to get several segment-leading features.
Constructed on the all-new OMEGA (Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced) platform that will be the mainstay for all future products with over 4.3 m length, the Harrier will have definitive off-roading soul characteristics as well, since the platform itself a derivative of Land Rove’s D8 acrchitecture.
As for the exterior, it is clear that the Harrier is based on the H5X Concept that debuted at the 2018 Auto Expo in February. The Mumbai-HQed company have indeed made revisions when transforming the Harrier from concept to production stage and they are evident from the evolving test mules spotted recently.
It is part of the Turnaround 2.0 strategy and comes with features such as slim LED Daytime Running Lights, sweeping bonnet, new lighting housing in the bumper with projector lamps and reflector lens, a compact rear profile with horizontal LED tail lamps, etc.
As foe the powertrain, the Harrier SUV uses a 2.0-litre Multijet four-cylinder diesel engine sourced from FCA and is also does duty under the bonnet of the successfully running Jeep Compass. With the five-seater Harrier more likely to produce 140 horsepower, the seven-seater version arriving a year later directly rivals Compass by developing as much as 170 hp.
The Harrier will be offered in two transmission choices as a six-speed manual will be standard, along with a reported six-speed torque converter automatic sourced from Hyundai. It is more likely to get two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive systems as well.