High performance Tata Nexon JTP in the works: Ford EcoSport EcoBoost challenger!

Tata Motors has just announced that the Tiago JTP will be launched in India during this year’s festive season. The Tigor JTP will follow shortly and the latest revelation on the JTP front is that the Nexon compact SUV will be the third in line to get this high-performance badge.

However, it won’t be before 2020 when the Nexon JTP will roll into Tata Motors showrooms. The high-performance compact SUV will use the 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine in a higher state of tune. Currently, this motor makes 108 Bhp-170 Nm. Expect a solid bump up in power and torque figures by means of a remap.

Other changes on the Nexon JTP could include a revised suspension – likely to be stiffer and lower – for sharper handling, and tweaked gear ratios on the 6 speed manual gearbox. Cosmetically, expect the compact SUV to get a few tweaks as well, both on the outside and inside.

The outside of the SUV is likely to get a sporty theme with the insides getting wrapped in leather, with contrast stitch, and the steel pedals getting replaced by drilled, aluminium units. Meanwhile, the Tata Nexon diesel is already India’s most powerful sub-4 meter compact SUV, what with its 1.5 litre turbocharged engine making 108 Bhp-260 Nm.

Currently, the Ford EcoSport’s EcoBoost version is the benchmark when it comes to sporty performance among petrol powered sub-4 meter compact SUVs sold in India. The EcoSport is powered by a 1 litre-3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 125 Bhp-170 Nm on tap, and features a 6 speed manual gearbox. The Nexon JTP is likely to go a step further.

The Nexon is a hot-selling compact SUV in India, and the vehicle trades places with the Ford EcoSport every other month for the 2nd position in the Indian sub-4 meter compact SUV market. The JTP variant will come at a time when the Nexon is ripe for a mid-life makeover.

Notably, Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms kick in from April 2020, and are much more stricter than the current, BS4 norms. The JTP variant of the Tata Nexon will meet the tighter emission norms.

Via ACI