The Harrier is easily the most anticipated product from Tata Motors since the Nano. The company's president (PV unit), Mayank Pareek, has driven it, and he can't praise it enough.
On the sidelines of the Tiago NRG launch, Pareek didn't hold back on the future product. "There's no car like this in this segment," he said, in a virtual mic-drop style:
I have driven it a lot at factory test tracks. It's an exceptional car. Drivability is huge; you feel very comfortable, very solid. It's gonna be one of the big blockbusters.
Pareek's excitement about the Harrier has context. The concept it has evolved from, the Tata H5X, was a show-stopper at the Auto Expo 2018. Tata Motors has made it using its new IMPACT Design 2.0 design language and developed it on the Land Rover's D8 platform. 80-85% of the concept's exterior design is going into production, Pratap Bose, Head of Design, Tata Motors, has said.
The Tata Harrier will offer seats for five and employ FCA's 140 PS 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine. Transmission choices will include 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic, with the latter sourced from Hyundai. IAB has learned that the availability of an AWD system is unlikely. This should apply to even the 7-seat version (codename: Tata H7X) following in 2020.
Also See: Top-spec Tata Harrier interior seen in clear spy images
The Harrier will go on sale in early 2019. Expect prices to start at around INR 12 lakh. Gearing up for the premium SUV's launch, from January, Tata Motors will be upgrading its dealerships.
