Mysterious new Tata Nexon spotted: Electric or Hybrid?

The Tata Nexon is among the most popular sub-4 meter SUVs in India. Its unconventional styling coupled with the powerful engines and spacious interiors has made it a hard to resist package. Some time back, it was being reported that Tata is working on a hybrid powertrain for the Nexon and that an electric Nexon is also possible in the coming time. Now, a picture has surfaced online which shows a slightly different type of Nexon. It is probably missing the radiator at the front which suggests it might be electric.

However, it is also being suggested that it is the hybrid variant as the company had been developing a mild hybrid powertrain since some time now. The picture, however, is blurred and hence nothing can be affirmed with surety. Aesthetically, it seems identical to the regular Nexon and it could use the EV technology present on the Tigor EV. The Tigor EV is already plying in India and is used by EESL, who gave the first bulk order for the Tigor EV to Tata. As for the talks of the Hybrid go, that is a possibility as the company’s European technical centre was working on two 48-volt systems some time back. The Altroz is said to feature a mild hybrid system and the same system could be used on the Nexon as well.

Tata recently showcased the Altroz EV at the Geneva motor show which attracted quite a lot of attention towards it. The Altroz EV will be powered by a Permanent Magnet AC Motor and will come with a single speed gearbox. The battery could be charged up to 80% in just 60 minutes. Further, the Altroz EV will have an estimated range of about 250-300 km. The company is currently working on EVs with a higher range of 200-230-km-per-charge that increases the practical usage of the car. Moreover, Tata is also working on the new generation connected vehicle solution platform, which will be an integral part of the electric vehicles that it plans to sell.

Tata recently confirmed the development of the electric version of the H2X micro SUV. If the Nexon featured here is really an EV, then Tata will have as many as 5 EVs in its model lineup including the likes of the Tiago EV, H2X EV, Tigor EV, Nexon EV and the Altroz EV. All 5 of these EVs will be positioned below Rs. 15 lakh price bracket. Other manufacturers like Mahindra, Hyundai, and Nissan among others are also planning to launch EVs soon in India. With the FAME II policy ready to come in, most of the manufacturers are now going for either the hybrid route or EV route.

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