Update: New live images of the Tata H2X Concept from the 2019 Geneva Motor Show added to the gallery at the end of the story.
5 March 2019 -
Tata Motors has unveiled the H2X Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, a model that was so far referred to as the 'Hornbill'. The new model will spawn an A-segment SUV (codename: X445) that will likely debut at the Auto Expo 2020 in February next year.
The aesthetics of the H2X are governed by the company's Impact Design 2.0 philosophy. The new model features a familiar face that is highly reminiscent of the H5X Concept. The front-end features similar hood-level LED DRLs and a tri-arrow pattern below them. The beefy bumper, however, has an edgier profile, which compliments the overall boxy silhouette. The profile of the H2X is characterised by bold wheel arches, blacked-out pillars and large alloy wheels with turquoise accents. The upright stance and the squarish proportions lend it a striking appearance.
The interior of the Tata H2X features a minimalist look with twin 10.2-inch screens that display instrumentation and the infotainment system. It boasts an aircraft-inspired steering wheel and several neon blue highlights. The doors have removable Bluetooth speakers that have been restrained using straps. Closer observation reveals the application of the company's tri-arrow motif on the tactile surfaces. The vehicle's design team is said to have worked in conjunction with design consultancy firm architexture to make use of the latest 3D-printed techniques. That said, it remains to be seen if most of the futuristic details would make it to the production-spec model.
The company states that the Tata H2X Concept is a precursor to a sub-compact SUV that will boast “exemplary performance, future-ready connectivity and outstanding interior room”. The new model will be underpinned by the manufacturer's Agile Light Flexible Advanced (ALFA) architecture. Compared to the Altroz, the Hornbill “will have a wheelbase that is around 50 mm shorter.”
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Powering the production-spec Tata H2X will be the same all-new 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that will debut in the Altroz. The availability of a diesel engine is uncertain at the moment as the advent of BS-VI emission norms will lead to a significant increase in the cost of oil burners, thereby making them unfeasible for entry-level models.
