Tata Motors is in the final stages of testing the Harrier-based Gravitas 6 seat SUV, which will be launched early next year. One such test mule in production-ready trim was spied in Pune. The test mule of the Tata Gravitas featured a blue paint scheme that’s similar to what used to be offered on the Hexa, Tata Motors’ previous flagship car.
First shown at the Geneva Motor Show last year, and then at this year’s Auto Expo, the Gravitas is based on the Harrier, with which it will share much of its mechanicals. It was initially called the Buzzard concept, and the production version was renamed to Gravitas. The Gravitas gets a new top hat with a much taller roofline than the Harrier. This is to offer more headroom to the second and third rows of passengers.
While the Harrier gets a twin row, 5 seat layout, the Gravitas will get a 6 seat layout spread across 3 rows. The new SUV is 63 mm longer and 80 mm taller than the Harrier. The cabin will get a beige coloured theme instead of dark brown that we have seen on the SUV. The new SUV is expected to offer more features than the Harrier, and will also be pricier by at least about Rs. 1 lakh. When launched early next year, the Gravitas will become the new flagship offering from Tata Motors. Like the Harrier, it will be built on a monocoque platform derived from Land Rover’s LS550 architecture.
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In terms of mechanicals, the Tata Gravitas will use the 2 liter-4 cylinder Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engine – the likes of which power the Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass and the MG Hector. This motor is likely to make 168 Bhp-350 Nm, in other words be offered in the same state of tune that it’s available with in the Harrier. Two gearbox options are expected: a 6 speed manual and a 6 speed torque converter automatic.
A front wheel drive layout will be standard and an all wheel drive layout will not be offered even as an option. The Gravitas will go up against the facelifted MG Hector, which will get a 7 seat layout, the upcoming all-new Mahindra XUV500 and the 7 seat version of the 2020 Hyundai Creta – another mid sized SUV that is due for a 2021 launch.
Tata Motors is betting big on the Gravitas, as the automaker gears up to do 40,000 units per month. The Gravitas – along with a high-volume product called the Hornbill HBX – is expected to give Tata Motors a big volumes boost. The Harrier is doing about 1,500 monthly units on an average, and the Gravitas will be expected to add 1,000-1,500 units to this number, nearly doubling sales of the SUV duo. In the next six months, Tata Motors has lined up 6 new cars. Apart from the Gravitas and the Hornbill HBX, other Tata cars getting readied up for launch include the Altroz turbo petrol, Altroz turbo petrol DCT automatic, Altroz Electric and the Hexa BS6.
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