Tata 45X premium hatchback: Launch timeline of Maruti Baleno challenger revealed

Tata Motors will launch the production version of the 45X premium hatchback concept in the second half of 2019. Mayank Pareek, the president of Tata Motors’ passenger vehicles business has noted that the car would be launched between July-September 2019. The Tata 45X was first shown as a concept at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. The car will be based on the advanced modular platform (AMP), which is called as Alpha Arc.

Here’s what Mr. Mayank Pareek said,

Harrier is first product based on Omega and our next product will be on Alpha. We will just have these two platforms…a product based on Alpha platform can come around the second quarter of next year (July-September).

The production version of the Tata 45X is expected to share its engines with the Tata Tiago. Both the petrol and diesel engines will be shared, but will produce more power and torque on the 45X. We expect the 1.2 liter petrol engine to be offered with a turbocharger, while the 1.1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine is expected to get a variable geometry turbocharger in order to boost outputs.

While manual gearbox options will be standard on both engines, a twin clutch automated manual transmission is said to be under development for launch in future. Like how the Tata Harrier shows a high level of resemblance with the H5X concept, the production version of the 45X premium hatchback is also expected to look very similar to the concept version.

The car will compete with the likes of the Maruti Baleno and Hyundai Elite i20 in the premium hatchback segment. Considering how well entrenched these cars are, the Tata 45X will have to pack in a spectacular amount of features to stand out. Tata Motors is also likely to price the new car very aggressively as a value-for-money price tag could get buyers interested.

Tata Motors followed this strategy with the Tiago, which is now the automaker’s biggest recent successes. The feature-packed Tata Tiago was launched at a shockingly low price tag, and this helped the car establish itself in a highly competitive segment. The Tata Tiago now sells close to 10,000 monthly units, and is Tata Motors’ best selling car. A similar strategy is likely to play out with the Tata 45X premium hatchback.

The Alpha Arc platform that underpins the Tata 45X premium hatchback will host a range of new cars. The next big thing from this platform is likely to be a micro SUV. Also, a sedan based on this platform is on the works. The sedan is expected to share styling bits and parts with the Tata 45X premium hatchback. However, these cars are not expected to be launched in India anytime before 2020. All these cars will be ready to accept electric power trains as Tata Motors does have major plans in electric mobility.

Via FinancialExpress