Tata Motors’ First All Wheel Drive Car Coming Soon: Details

Tata Motors is preparing to launch its first AWD offering in the Indian market. The homegrown manufacturer will bring the all-wheel drive tech in one of its upcoming electric vehicles. Tata had recently launched the Curvv.EV, after which test mule sightings of the all-electric Harrier seem to have increased, indicating an imminent launch. It will be the Harrier.EV that will bring AWD tech to Tata’s stable.

Before you ask “But the OG Safari and Hexa already had it?”, we are talking about AWD here, and not 4WD. The OG Safari and Hexa had proper four-wheel drive tech onboard, and the discontinuation of these had upset enthusiasts back in the day. This EV could make for a gentle consolation. Also, let’s face it: 4WD and AWD are two different things!

Just because it comes with AWD, it wouldn’t be logical to expect the Harrier EV to be off-road capable. Like many modern electric vehicles, it could use the AWD setup for faster acceleration and better handling and manoeuvring ( if equipped with technologies like torque vectoring), and not outright off-roading.

Tata Harrier EV: What To Expect?

A prototype of Tata Harrier EV was previously spied testing in Leh. It confirmed the presence of a rear axle-mounted electric motor. It could thus be an RWD or AWD model that’s coming. Later developments confirmed that Tata will offer a dual-motor setup on the Harrier.EV, thereby confirming AWD on top-spec variants.

The vehicle will be underpinned by Tata’s new-age Acti.EV skateboard platform. This is the same that forms the base for the Curvv.EV as well. This architecture supports the use of up to two motors- one on each axle. To effectively accommodate the electric powertrain, the suspension will have significant improvements gone into it. Spy shots confirm the use of a new multi-link setup at the rear. The ICE version uses a torsion beam setup instead.

With the new suspension in place, the Harrier EV is expected to offer good ride quality and improved handling. The suspension will likely make the ride smoother and more responsive than what’s being offered on the regular SUV.

Details of the battery pack that will be used on the EV are yet to be known. Currently, Tata sources its battery packs internally, but could soon start using batteries made by the Chinese company Octillion Power Systems. The Curvv will be the first EV to get Chinese batteries. The Harrier.EV could also use Octillion batteries on launch.

It could likely deliver a range of up to 500 km. The vehicle could come with vehicle-to-load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) abilities, like the new Nexon.EV.

Tata Harrier EV will also sport several changes in its exterior design. While the overall silhouette will remain similar to its ICE counterpart, the EV will have a closed-off grill, connected LED light DRLs similar to the ICE model, redesigned EV-spec alloy wheels, a connected LED taillight and a slightly different rear bumper.

While no spy shots reveal the interior details, the EV could come with a similar cabin layout as the ICE version and revised interior colours. The feature list will likely have a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a panoramic sunroof with ambient lighting, gesture-enabled powered tailgate, and potentially ventilated and powered front seats.

Tata Motors is expected to launch the Harrier.EV in the first quarter of 2025. The Bharat Mobility Expo that will happen early next year is expected to be venue where the production version will be showcased.