Tata Harrier dispatch has commenced in India ahead of its market debut; expected to throw a tough competition in the segment
Tata Motors is gearing up to introduce a brand new SUV in the domestic market on January 23, as the long-awaited Harrier is finally getting to the hands of the customers. Ahead of the launch, Tata has been conducting promotion activities and hands-on preview across India and the Harrier has started dispatching to dealerships as you can see in our spy pictures.
The Harrier can be booked for the initial token of Rs. 30,000 and considering the buzz created over a year, it is expected to make a huge mark in the segment. Competing against the likes of top-end Hyundai Creta, upcoming Nissan Kicks, Mahindra XUV500 and Jeep Compass to some extent, the Harrier can now be only had with five-seater layout.
A seven-seater version of the Harrier with the different name and perhaps character is expected to debut at 2020 Auto Expo. The Harrier is based on the OMEGA platform derived from Land Rover D8 and has bigger proportions than most of its rivals ensuring a roomier cabin for occupants and high boot volume. The Harrier takes plenty of design cues from the H5X concept that laid down the foundation for the production model in the first place.
The Harrier derives power from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Kryotec diesel engine, which can also be found in the Jeep Compass. The premium SUV is tuned to produce a maximum power output of 140 PS and 350 Nm, and it will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission only at the launch with different driving modes. A six-speed torque converter automatic unit sourced from Hyundai will join the lineup later.
The monocoque SUV is part of Tata’s Turnaround 2.0 strategy as the company has embarked on a mission to be present in 90 percent of the addressable segments. The Harrier is the first vehicle to adorn Impact Design 2.0 language and will influence the styling philosophy of the upcoming models like X451 premium hatchback and Hornbill micro SUV.
The conceptual take on the Hornbill will likely make world debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March while the production X451 is expected to go on sale in the second half of this year to rival Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and VW Polo.
