Tata Motors will reveal the X451 code-named premium hatchback at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. The new hatchback has been testing on Indian roads for more than a year now, and will soon be launched here. It will be the most expensive hatchback sold by Tata Motors and will challenge the Maruti Baleno and the Hyundai Elite i20. The X451 code-named hatchback will be the first Tata car to be based on the Advanced Modular Platform (AMP). It will however used engines sourced from the Tiago.
The petrol engine will be the 1.2 liter unit from the Tiago, producing 84 Bhp-115 Nm. Tata is expected to add the 1.2 liter turbocharged petrol engine from the Nexon to the X451 later. The diesel engine at launch will be the 1.05 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged unit, again from the Tiago, but with a variable geometry turbocharger for higher power and torque outputs. 5 speed manual gearboxes are likely to be standard. Tata is also expected to offer automatic gearbox option like every other automaker operating in the premium hatchback segment.
The X451 will feature a very fresh design, and will preview Tata Motors’ IMPACT Design 2.0. The car that will be showcased is expected to be very close to the production version. Tata Motors may offer hot hatch versions of the X451 to challenge the likes of the Maruti Baleno RS and the Volkswagen Polo GT twins. The company has ready access to more powerful turbocharged petrol and diesel engines from the Nexon. It also has 6 speed manual gearboxes it can deploy on the high-performance X451. However, we expect the high-performance versions to come in only in 2019 or beyond.
Tata Motors is a firm #4 in the Indian car market now, and has displaced Honda from that position. Multiple hot selling cars like the Tiago, Nexon and Hexa have allowed Tata to get there. The X451 is expected to give Tata even more momentum, and help it challenge Mahindra for 3rd place in India’s car market.
Via ACI
