As per a report, Tata Motors has confirmed to axe the Hexa SUV due to the upcoming BS-VI emission norms and will replace it with 7-seater Harrier
Tata recently previewed the Tata Harrier based 7-seater Buzzard SUV at the Geneva Motor Show 2019. The additional third-row seat model was announced back at Auto Expo 2018 where Tata showcased the Harrier as the H5X concept. However, there was no official date put on the Buzzard SUV. What was known is that Tata will launch a 7-seater Harrier at the start of 2020, post launching the Tata Altroz premium hatchback, which will hit the Indian roads as soon as the festive season starts.
Now as per a report, Tata Buzzard, or whatever it will be named, will actually replace the low-selling Tata Hexa SUV in India. The 7-Seater Hexa will be axed due to the stringent BS-VI emission norms coming to force from 1st April, 2020. Rather than updating the Hexa, Tata will replace it with Harrier based 7-seater SUV.
The Hexa couldn’t generate as much interest in the buyers as Tata initially hoped when the SUV was introduced back in early 2017. The 2.2-litre diesel unit powering the Hexa won’t be updated as per the report and rather a 2.0-litre unit that powers the Harrier will get the BS-VI ready tech, to power the bigger 7-seater Harrier based SUV.
There were also some reports suggesting Tata will name the new SUV as Cassini, however, it is not confirmed as of now. The BS-VI technology will cost a bomb for the diesel cars for upgradation and it doesn’t make sense to have different engines in the portfolio, hence Tata is forced to rationalize the engine lineup, keeping only one FCA source 2.0-litre for bigger SUVs.
While the Harrier gets a detuned version of the Multijet engine, it is expected that Tata will add more power and torque to the Buzzards’ engine. The 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel engine could generate 170hp and 350Nm of torque. Also on offer will be a Hyundai sourced 6-speed automatic gearbox, which the Harrier is missing as of now. There’s only a 6-speed manual gearbox on offer.
Tata will also discontinue the current 1.05-litre, three-cylinder diesel powering the Tiago and Tigor. Just like the five-seat version, the seven-seat Harrier will be based on Land Rover’s D8 platform and will have a 62mm longer rear overhang to accommodate a third row of seats.