Tata HBX EV to Become A Cheaper Alternative to Tata Nexon

During the 2020 Auto Expo, earlier this year, Tata Motors had showcased two brilliant-looking concept vehicles. One was the Sierra EV, which was brought to showcase the potential next-gen model of the Sierra. The other one was HBX, which is Tata’s upcoming vehicle for the Indian market. Dubbed as a mini-SUV, the HBX was displayed in a near-production form. Still, the car’s launch date is still under wraps, and people are waiting in anticipation for the car. While we wait, there have been a few people who have prepared their own version, albeit digitally.

The picture above shows a Tata HBX, imagined as an electric vehicle. There are a few details worth noting that make this particular different from the one shown at Auto Expo. Firstly, while the front grille has the same vertically-split design, the lower portion is now larger. Also, the concept car has a large skid plate, which has been removed here to make way for an airdam and fog lamps on the front bumper. As there is no engine under the bonnet, the front grille remains closed. Still, even the battery pack and motors need a little cooling, which is why the airdam has an opening in the centre.

Other than that, this Tata HBX rendering loses all the off-road bits of the concept, like the roof-rail, side-skirts, and the knobbly tyres. The alloy wheel design has also been changed, resembling the ones of the 2020 Tata Nexon (facelift model). Even the tri-arrow elements on the grille and airdam are inspired by the Nexon's, along with the floating roof design and the dual-tone exterior paint scheme.

This digital avatar of the Tata HBX EV shows how the real car could look like once it’s launched in India. Tata Motors had earlier expressed their desire to expand their EV line-up in our market, but considering the latest developments in the automobile industry, perhaps the introduction of a new electric car wouldn’t be a smart choice. Car dealerships have only just resumed operations, and sales might take a while to stabilise. Also, the infrastructure to support mass markets EVs is still missing, which is the biggest hurdle for carmakers.

Source: electricvehicleweb