Tata HBX Concept Is 97% Close To Spawning a Maruti Ignis Rival

Tata Motors has recently showcased the Tata HBX concept at the Auto Expo 2020. The concept car was based on the H2X design study that was seen at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the company's ALFA platform and features Tata’s latest IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy.

Pratap Bose, VP (Global Design), Tata Motors, has recently revealed that the HBX concept is 97% close to production. What this means, ideally, is that the design of the car has been finalised and the testing has also been successful. What remains are just the final few adjustments, and then, the car will be ready for its launch. We expect it to happen at the end of the year, but the timeline can only be finalised after an official confirmation by the company executives.

Tata HBX walkaround at Auto Expo 2020 | IndianAutosBlog

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As can be seen in the pictures, Tata HBX has a very SUV-ish look, with high ground clearance, heavy-duty skid plate, a gigantic roof rack, and knobbly tyres. The tail design is inspired by the Nexon and the front-fascia by the Harrier. The specifications of the upcoming Tata vehicle haven’t been disclosed, but we expect the new vehicle to be powered by the same engines as the Tata Altroz. Thus, you can expect to find a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine which produces 86PS and 113Nm of peak power and torque figures respectively. You might also find a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that can generate 90PS and 200Nm.

Prices are a mystery at this point, although we expect them to range between Rs. 5.5 lakh to Rs. 9 lakh. Upon launch, the HBX will rival the likes of Maruti Ignis, Mahindra KUV100 NXT, and Ford Freestyle. Alongside the HBX, Tata’s stall at the 2020 Auto Expo also showcased many other upcoming vehicles, like the Gravitas, and Sierra EV concept. Other than that, Tata also used the motor show as an opportunity to launch the Harrier automatic in India. The company is also close to introducing the Gravitas in the market, while the Altroz EV isn't far from its official launch, either. The former will become the new flagship product in the company's portfolio and the latter will be slotted below the Nexon EV. On the other hand, the production version of the HBX will be positioned between the Tiago and the Altroz.