- The 45X Concept based hatchback will enter the B+ segment in India.
- Likely to retain most of the design elements in the production avatar.
- Indian debut expected to happen around the festive season.
Tata Motors has confirmed the production-spec 45X for the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The new Baleno-rival from Tata’s stable will make its first public debut next month after being showcased in the concept guise at last year’s Auto Expo.
The yet-to-be-named hatchback is based on the new Agile Light Flexible Advanced Architecture (ALFA) platform and carries forward the same IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy which debuted with the Harrier. As seen with the Harrier, the production-spec 45X will also retain most of its design details from the gorgeous-looking concept. It will carry sharp headlamps, aggressive bumpers, smooth silhouette and imposing rear. The massive wheels seen on the concept will be toned down to conventional looking ones but we expect some stylish alloy wheel design to debut with the hatchback.
On the inside, we know that there will be a floating touchscreen display which is shared with the Harrier. The modern cabin will be well laid out with good quality materials. According to reports, the 45X hatchback will be one of the most feature-laden vehicles in its segment. The instrument cluster will get a digital screen alongside the analogue speedometer.
No powertrain details are available at the moment. However, we expect that the powertrain of the premium hatchback will be shared with the other Tata vehicles. The petrol could either be the 85hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally-aspirated motor from the Tiago. Or the turbo-petrol unit of the Nexon. Meanwhile, the diesel option could be the 1.5-litre four-cylinder which also powers the Nexon. At the launch, there will be a single six-speed manual gearbox but an automatic option might join in later.
Following the Geneva debut, the Indian launch is expected to be around August, perhaps in the festive season. When launched, the hatchback will be priced in the range of Rs 7-8 lakhs. It will be slotted in the demanding B+ segment which is currently populated by the Hyundai Elite i20, Maruti Baleno, Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz.
