As far as new vehicle launches go, Tata Motors hasn’t been making major headlines since the launch of the Harrier SUV earlier this year. The company did unveil the Altroz hatchback and the H2X earlier this year at the 2019 Geneva Motor show, along with the Tata Buzzard SUV. While it was known that these models will make it to our shores, we bring you a tentative timeline of these new model launches and other facelifts that are due in the Indian market in the coming months.
Tata Altroz (2019 festive season)
Tata Motors will bring the much-awaited Altroz premium hatchback this festive season, which means a launch around late-September can be expected. The company had postponed the unveiling of the India-spec Altroz by a month, which means the car will now be shown for the first time sometime in August, followed by other media activities. The Altroz sports Tata’s Impact Design 2.0 styling and is underpinned by the company's new ALFA modular platform that will spawn more models in future. For those who don’t know, the Tata Altroz is the market name for the production- spec hatchback that was based on the 45X Concept – it was showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo in New Delhi. Under the hood, the Altroz will come with an 85hp, 1.2-litre petrol, a 102hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol from the Nexon compact SUV and a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel with 90hp on tap. Initially, the Altroz will get the option of 5-speed and 6-speed manual gearboxes but the company will introduce automatic variants a little later. Key rivals to the Altroz will include the likes of the Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the recently launched Toyota Glanza.
New Tata 7-seat SUV (early 2020)
Tata Motors unveiled the Buzzard SUV at the Geneva motor show earlier this year. Essentially a 7-seat version of the Harrier that is already on sale in India the model (codenamed H7X) is 62mm longer than the 5-seat Harrier in order to accommodate a third row of seats. The company is expected to announce pricing for this new SUV by early next year and it’ll launch with a different marketing name in India; the Buzzard name was just for the Geneva motor show. This new SUV will come with a BS6-compliant 2.0-litre diesel engine good for around 170hp. A 6-speed manual transmission will be standard though Tata is also readying a 6-speed automatic variant of this SUV.
Tata Harrier BS6 automatic (early 2020)
The Harrier will get major mechanical updates sometime early next year. These upgrades include a more powerful, BS6-compliant version of the current engine and the addition of a much-awaited 6-speed automatic gearbox option. This means, the Harrier’s 2.0-litre diesel will deliver around 170hp, as opposed to the current 140hp figure. In addition, there are talks of the Harrier getting a factory-fit sunroof as well, along with this mechanical update.
Tata H2X (Hornbill) micro-SUV (late 2020)
Tata Motors will introduce a production-spec version of its H2X micro-SUV sometime next year, though its official unveiling is expected in February 2020 at the Auto Expo in Delhi. This new SUV (also known as the Hornbill) will sit below the Nexon in Tata’s India range. The H2X concept’s design features prominent, squared-off edges at the front, lending a boxier, more upright stance and less-rounded proportions than the Nexon. These design cues give it a more imposing – and more SUV-like – appearance. The production-spec SUV (codenamed X445) will be built on the ALFA modular platform that will also underpin the Tata Altroz. Key rivals to the H2X would include Mahindra KUV100 NXT, the production version of the Maruti Future S Concept (expected to be named the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso) and Hyundai’s all-new micro-SUV that is expected in 2023.
Tata Tiago/Tigor facelifts
A mid-cycle update for the Tiago and the Tigor are in the works with test mules being spotted every now and then. The models are likely to be upgraded structurally to meet upcoming crash test and pedestrian safety norms. The 1.2-litre petrol motor will be upgraded to BS6 emissions norms as well, though the 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel engine will be discontinued before the April 1, 2020 deadline.
Tata Nexon facelift
The company has begun work on the updated Nexon. While its date of unveil is not known yet, we expect the compact SUV to get all-new front styling in order to give it a more modern look. There are talks of interior tweaks as well. Under the hood, expect the refreshed Tata Nexon to use the same set turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines as the current model, but upgraded to meet BS6 norms. The updated version of Tata’s 5-star crash test-rated SUV (certified by Global NCAP) will see stiff competition from the likes of the Mahindra XUV300, the Hyundai Venue and the popular Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
Click here for all Tata models, prices, reviews, images, videos and more