Tata Motors’ new micro-SUV - the Hornbill which is set to launch in India by 2020 was spotted testing recently in Tamil Nadu.
Tata Hornbill will sport a design identical to the premium hatchback 45X, thanks to the Advanced Modular Platform (Alpha ARC), also seen on the 45X, but the dimensions would be smaller. It will boast of the Impact Design 2.0 philosophy and will be offered as a variant under Tata Nexon, among the company’s SUV range.
The exterior design and styling of the Tata Hornbill will be buffed up and muscular. It is evident from its roofline and ground clearance which is more than the 45X Aquilla. The production variant may probably get a square design shared from the Tata Nexon.
The new Tata micro-SUV will have to fit the norms set by Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP). To match the emission regulations, the Hornbill SUV is expected to get a BS-VI compliant 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol motor with micro-hybrid technology and will be mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic manual transmissions.
The Hornbill can be expected to be in a price range of Rs.5 lakhs to Rs. 8 lakhs. It will compete against the yet to be launched Maruti Y1K micro-SUV, Maruti Ignis and the Mahindra KUV100 (XUV100).
Source: Rushlane, Gaadiwaadi
