Sources from Kolkata have stated that the just-launched luxury SUV Hexa based on the MUV Aria platform is just the beginning of Tata Motors’ plans to grab a substantial chunk of the SUV pie that is currently dominated by rival Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M). In doing so, it also aims to dislodge M&M from the no.3 spot in the Indian auto market and grab the coveted position.
Meanwhile Hexa is the second SUV in its stable and joins the Tata Safari Storme, the company is set to launch two more vehicles in the segment over the next 36 months. While one of them is the compact SUV Nexon that the company showcased at the India Auto Expo in February 2016, the other is a top-of-the-line luxury SUV that is currently taking shape at design studios in UK, Italy and India.
According to a company source, the premium SUV is based on the Land Rover Discovery Sport L550 platform and will follow a similar architecture while integrating Tata’s Impact Design philosophy. The SUV will be positioned above the Safari and slot into a space below the SUVs sold by global auto manufacturers like Toyota, General Motors and Ford. “It will be the most premium vehicle yet to carry the Tata badge,” a company official has said.
At the other end of the spectrum, Tata Motors will launch entry-level SUV Nexon in 2018. While the premium SUV that is expected to be priced upward of Rs 20 lakh will be powered by a 2 litre diesel engine, the sub-Rs 7 lakh Nexon will have a 1.2 litre petrol and 1.5 litre diesel engines under the bonnet. The car will get different drive modes: City, Eco and Sport that is also offered in the Bolt, Zest and Tiago.
