There we have it – a computer-generated image previewing the final look of the upcoming Tata Nexon facelift. The compact SUV will receive a major facelift, clearly drawing stylistic elements from the Curvv and Harrier EV concepts. This is the second facelift for the Nexon, and perhaps also sets the template for the upcoming Harrier and Safari facelifts due in the coming months. We take a close look at all the details and how the design has evolved over its predecessor.
Tata Nexon facelift exterior design
First impressions are that the updated Nexon looks more upright and squarish, and unlike most facelifts, where changes are limited to just the soft parts, Tata Motors seems to have made some sheet metal changes as well. In fact, if you were to view the facelifted SUV head-on, it looks like a completely different model, barely carrying forward any aesthetic element.
Take the bonnet and front fender, for instance, which has been redesigned to accommodate the new split headlamp set-up. The bonnet itself gives the impression of being higher with prominent contours towards the edges for a more muscular look. A key design detail on the updated Nexon is its new LED Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) signature – a slim LED band positioned high up on the face with stacked elements at the trailing edge. The DRLs will feature sequential lighting elements and blends neatly with the grille that’s a lot slimmer now.
Lower down, the front bumper looks wider and taller, and features prominent C-shaped protrusions within which the main headlamp cluster and fog lamps are housed. It gives a sense of depth and visual mass to the face, while the trapezoid-like housings bring some contrast with a blacked-out finish. The bumper also features a new studded detailing on the lower portion, and the keen-eyed among you will notice that the Nexon’s signature Y-shaped design motifs are now completely gone.
Earlier, the Y-shaped design motif resembled Merc’s three-pointed star, which is why Tata later updated it, with only two arms of the Y-shaped element being coloured. But the Nexon facelift will omit it completely.
As with most facelifts, there will not be many changes in profile – the doors and glasshouse will be identical – and here too, the Y-shaped design motif on the plastic cladding on the lower portion of the doors has been given a miss. What was another signature design element on the Nexon was the contrasting band below the window line that wrapped around at the rear. On the facelift, it will not have a contrasting finish, and with the rear having a completely new design, it will also not loop around anymore. The updated Nexon also gets an all-new set of alloy wheels with five-petal-like design with a dual-tone finish.
The rear is majorly redone, mimicking some of the front design elements – like the C-shaped protrusions which house the reflectors, and pushed towards the edges, it gives the SUV an impression of being wider than it is. The rear is also flatter than the cascading design on the current Nexon, and keeping up with modern trends, the tail-lamp cluster is a full-width LED light bar that splits towards the edges. Also new is a redesigned roof-mounted spoiler that brings a slight wraparound effect, and if you’re wondering about the rear wiper, it’s tucked away neatly under the spoiler, much like you see on the Hyundai Tucson.
Tata Nexon facelift to get an all-new interior
Updates to the Nexon facelift’s interior will be as comprehensive as the exterior. Although we do not have a rendering image showing the full interior just yet, spy shots have hinted at a completely redesigned dashboard with a larger touchscreen, an all-new touch-based central control panel, a new digital instrument cluster, and a new backlit, two-spoke steering wheel.
Tata Nexon facelift powertrain options
As for powertrain options, the Nexon facelift is expected to continue with the existing 120hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine as well as the 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine, mated to either manual or AMT transmissions. Tata can keep the 1.5-litre diesel engine chugging along in the Nexon for a few more years, thanks to the cost-effective Passive SCR system, about which you can read more here. A new dual-clutch gearbox is also expected to join the line-up.
Tata Nexon facelift launch timeline
The Tata Nexon facelift is expected to be launched by mid-September, and with the extensive raft of updates it receives, we expect the pricing to go up a fair bit as well. The SUV has plenty of rivals in this category, including the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Kia Sonet and Mahindra XUV300, the last two of which are also due for updates very soon.
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