Tata 45X premium hatchback: What the Maruti Baleno rival could look like

Tata Motors is working on a premium hatchback that will rival the Maruti Baleno. The car was first showcased in  concept form at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo as the 45X hatchback concept. The production version of the Tata 45X will be launched late next year. CarToq’s rendering artist Vipin Vathoopan has put together a speculative render that  shows what the new Tata premium hatchback could look like.

Long, low and gorgeous, just like the 45X concept. This is how the production version of the Tata 45X premium  hatchback is expected to turn out. The car will get LED headlamps similar to the ones seen on the concept. Much of  the concept’s design cues are expected to be retained in the production version but expect some changes to make the car more practical for a wide buyer demographic.

The new Tata 45X will be the first car to be based on the Advanced Modular Platform (AMP). The AMP is expected to  spawn many more Tata cars including a sedan version of the 45X, an MPV and even a micro SUV. For now though, the premium hatchback will be the first car to use this platform, which will involve a lot of parts sharing. Basically, the AMP platform is designed to be similar to the Volkswagen MQB platform in terms of parts sharing.

Coming back to the Tata 45X, the car is expected to use a 1.2 liter turbocharged petrol engine (108 Bhp-170 Nm) borrowed from the Tata Nexon. Tata Motors is also said to be working on a mild hybrid for the 45X. The 1.5 liter diesel motor (108 Bhp-260 Nm) could also be borrowed from the Nexon, which will make the 45X one of the most powerful premium hatchbacks in India, more powerful than even the segment topping Volkswagen Polo GT.

Tata Motors has also hinted at a twin clutch AMT option for the 45X in future. At launch though, we expect the car to  be launched with 5 speed manual gearboxes. Expect the interiors of the car to be feature-rich. The car will not only comply with the upcoming safety norms under BNVSAP but is also expected to be Bharat Stage 6 emission norms ready right from the outset. Twin airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensors, speed alert, ISOFIX child seat mounting points and seat belt reminder will be standard safety features across the Tata 45X range.