The Tata Harrier will be showcased to the Indian media contingent next month, ahead of its market launch in January 2019. While the manufacturer has already unveiled its new flagship's exterior and revealed a fair bit about the specifications, details of the interior are scarce at the moment. As per Autocar, the highlight of the new model's dashboard is an 8.8-inch infotainment unit sourced from Visteon.
For the uninitiated, Visteon specialises in automotive infotainment units, multi-information display, and digital instrument clusters. Interestingly, the Range Rover Velar from Tata Motors-owned JLR uses Visteon's digital instrument cluster. The infotainment unit of the Tata Harrier reportedly offers MirrorLink, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It is being said that the reason to switch from a Harman-supplied infotainment unit to a Visteon system is a more responsive interface. That said, the audio system would come from Harman, which means one can safely expect a rich aural experience.
As per a report that emerged earlier this month, the new model features an in-built cooled storage area in the front armrest and dedicated smartphone storage slots for every passenger. Our exclusive spy images have revealed the instrument binnacle sporting monochrome back-lighting, while the cabin is in a black & beige theme. The steering wheel of the new SUV will be a small diameter unit featuring a newly-designed centre-pad.
The exterior of the Tata Harrier mimics the H5X to a great extent. It is the first production model to be designed as per the IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy. Highlights of the largely well-received design include a multi-tier light setup, Tri-Arrow patter, a rising beltline, taut surfaces, and JLR-like sleek LED taillamps.
Also Read - Tata Harrier - 10 things you need to know about the new flagship SUV
The Tata Harrier is underpinned by the manufacturer's Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced (OMEGA ARC) platform, which is, in turn, a derivative of the Land Rover's D8 platform that supports the current gen Discovery Sport. The SUV is powered by an FCA-sourced 2.0-litre Multijet II turbo-diesel motor that is being marketed as 'Kryotec'. Transmission options for the flagship SUV include a 6-speed manual and a Hyundai-sourced 6-speed automatic unit. The new model is being produced on a newly setup manufacturing line at the Tata Motors' Pune facility.
[Source - autocarindia.com]
