Autocar India has shared spy shots of the upcoming Tata H5 (Tata Q501) SUV. The Jeep Compass rival is based on the Land Rover Discovery Sport's platform. The report adds that the SUV may be christened Tata Harrier. It will make its debut at the Auto Expo on February 7, 2018.
The design of the Tata H5 aka Tata Harrier will debut the latest iteration of the company's design philosophy called Impact Design 2.0. The teaser images released by Tata reveal a Y-shape element in the fog lamp enclosures and sleek headlamps flanking the grille. A Hyundai Kona-like split headlamp setup may be on the cards.
According to the report, the Discovery Sport's platform being utilised by Tata will be slightly modified as the aluminium components will be replaced by relatively cheaper steel members. Autocar's sources say that the kerb weight will be less than 1,650 kg despite the use of steel in place of relatively lighter aluminium components. The SUV will feature an all-independent suspension setup and steering gear in a similar configuration to the Discovery Sport. Like the Land Rover SUV, there will be 5-seat and 7-seat version of the H5 on sale.
Tata will borrow Fiat's 2.0 L Multijet II diesel engine for the H5 aka Harrier. The engine is already being produced in India at Fiat's Ranjangaon facility. Autocar claims that the H5, the 5-seat version that will be launched first, will get a 140 hp version of this engine, while the seven-seat H7 that will arrive later will get a 180 hp version. Aside from a 6-speed manual, the Tata Harrier will employ ZF's 9-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox will be locally made and is the same one being used in the Discovery Sport currently.
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Tata will be focussing on interior space and the report suggest that the third row of the H7 will be more spacious than that of the Land Rover Discovery Sport. It will ride on 19-inch wheels sourced from MRF. Expect the wheelbase of the Tata H5/H7 to be identical to the Discovery Sport's.
[source - Autocar India]
