The Tata Nexon's roots go back almost 10 years. It's based on the Tata X1 platform which underpinned the Tata Indica Vista introduced in 2008, the Tata Manza that arrived in 2009, and a strengthened version supported the Tata Bolt and Tata Zest mid-decade. The mini-SUV is the last model underpinned by this platform.
The development was confirmed by Tim Leverton, President & CTO, Tata Motors. "This (Tata Nexon) will be the last car on this platform and I think we made clear that our future strategy we'd move to the modular platform," Mr. Leverton said. He also confirmed that the second-gen Nexon or the Nexon successor will sit on a new, modular platform.
"This car (Tata Nexon) will run in production for so long and when it gets replaced we go onto the new platform base," he added.
Modular platforms are the future, and top international automakers like Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Volvo are seeing development and production costs fall using a common tool kit. Tata Motors will join the bandwagon with AMP (Advanced Modular Platform) this decade. The company is already working on a B-segment hatchback (codename: Tata X451) based on this platform. This model is said to arrive in 2018, and although there's no confirmation, it could effectively replace the Bolt. More hatchbacks, as well as sedans, MPVs and SUVs based on the new scalable platform will follow later. Tata will effectively rationalize the number of platforms to just two in the coming years - AMP for mass-market models and Q for large utility vehicles.
The Tata Nexon is the company's first sub-4 metre production SUV. It is 3,994 mm long, 1,811 mm wide and 1,607 mm tall, and has a 2,498 mm wheelbase. It offers a high ground clearance of 209 mm, just 1 mm shy of the Renault Duster's. Two engines debut with this model - 1.2-litre Revotron petrol and 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel. The turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine produces 110 PS and 170 Nm of torque. The turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine develops 110 PS and 260 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, but an AMT option is confirmed for the year-end.
The Tata Nexon will go on sale in India in September 2017. Production has commenced at the Ranjangaon plant.
[Source: The Economic Times]
