Tata Hexa base variant might get Varicor 320

The Tata Hexa was supposed to be offered only with the Varicor 400 diesel engine, but, as per latest speculations, the Varicor 320 might make it to the new premium people mover from the Tata stable. To be launched in January 2017, the Hexa might offer the Varicor 320 with lower variants while keeping the Varicor 400 for top-spec cars.

If Tata offers this engine on the entry-level variant of the Hexa, it can get the price tag lower than what it could have done with the Varicor 400. Also, with a slightly better fuel economy, having the Varicor 320 across the range might offer Hexa buyers a cost competitive option for the same set of features and comfort. The Hexa Varicor 320 would come only with the five-speed manual gearbox and will miss out on the driving modes offered on the 400.

To ensure success of the Hexa, the pricing would be instrumental and this is where the Varicor 320 makes complete sense. The Varicor 320 engine is already being offered on the Tata Safari Storme and the Tata Aria. It is the same engine in a lower state of tune and producing 140bhp of power and 320Nm of torque as against the 160bhp of power and 400Nm of torque of the Varicor 400 that is being offered with the Hexa. Hence, plonking it in would involve absolutely no added costs.

Benchmarking the competition, the XUV500 and the Innova Crysta, it would be natural for the Hexa to have an automatic option for the mid variant. Hence, Tata might offer the base variant, XE, only with the Varicor 320 engine with the five-speed manual; the XM with the manual Varicor 320 and the Varicor 400 with both manual and automatic gearbox and the XT only with the Varicor 400 with both gearbox options.

The different variants on offer might be as follows:

Tata Hexa XE 320

2179cc, 148bhp, 320Nm, 5-speed manual

Tata Hexa XM 320

2179cc, 148bhp, 320Nm, 5-speed manual

Tata Hexa XM 400

2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed manual

Tata Hexa XMA 400

2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed automatic

Tata Hexa XT 400

2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed manual

Tata Hexa XTA 400