From facelifts to new powertrain introductions, every Tata SUV will be updated in the coming months.
Tata Motors will introduce a heavily overhauled SUV line-up in the Indian market starting this festive season. The brand will introduce as many as six new and updated products in the second half of the ongoing financial year.
In a post-Q1 earnings call, PB Balaji, Group CFO at Tata Motors, said, “From now onwards, the launch cycle is kicking in and we will be going full blast with a series of new launches. We have further ammunition to grow. We will start batting now and we are quite confident.”
- Punch CNG launch by early August; EV model to join line-up later
- Harrier, Safari and Nexon facelifts incoming
- Tata Motors to invest close to a billion dollars in FY24
Six product launches from Tata Motors: what are they?
Starting the proceedings will be the Punch CNG, which was showcased earlier this year at Auto Expo 2023. The CNG-powered Punch will go on sale likely in the first week of August and will be aimed squarely at its recently introduced arch rival, the Hyundai Exter CNG. The CNG powertrain option on the Punch is expected to be offered on almost all variants and it will come with Tata Motors’ new twin-CNG cylinder set-up, which liberates more cargo space than conventional CNG vehicles.
Tata’s patented dual-clyinder set-up will also find its was on the Punch CNG.
The popular Harrier and Safari SUVs are also in line to get a mid-lifecycle update and production of the updated models could start sometime in September 2023. Both SUVs will sport refreshed front and rear ends, new alloy wheel designs and a few other styling tweaks on the outside. Meanwhile, the interior will also be spruced up, there will be a larger touchscreen infotainment system, and a full digital instrument cluster is also likely. There will be some changes to the gear lever design and a few other cosmetic updates that will help the SUVs compete against their long list of rivals in the market.
Tata’s patent reveals new touch-based HVAC controls
Tata Motors’ bread-and-butter product in the SUV line-up, the Nexon, will also undergo a major update. Similar to the Harrier and Safari facelifts, the Nexon will also see major styling tweaks that will have cues from the Curvv concept SUV shown at the Auto Expo. On the inside, the cabin will get more upmarket touches – expect a new infotainment system, new switch gear as well as an all-new steering wheel. Along with the Nexon’s petrol and diesel models, Tata Motors will also introduce the Nexon EV facelift around the same time. This facelift, according to our sources, could get a slightly different front end in order to set it apart from its ICE-powered siblings.
Spy shots show a flat-bottom two-spoke steering wheel. WIll likely make it to most models.
Apart from the model updates mentioned above, Tata Motors will also introduce the Punch EV, which will be positioned between the Tiago EV and the Nexon EV. The electric model will share almost all body panels with the standard Punch, but it will have styling tweaks and also a unique alloy wheel design. On the inside, it will have similar switchgear as the Nexon facelift and will also have more features, including a 360-degree camera. The Punch EV is likely to use Tata Motors’ Ziptron powertrain that has a liquid-cooled battery with a permanent magnet synchronous motor powering the front wheels. However, the exact battery and electric motor specifications are not known yet.
Tata Motors to invest close to a billion dollars in FY24
Tata Motors will be investing Rs 8,000 crore in FY24 – its highest-ever annual investment – to sustain the growth momentum in passenger vehicles and seize back lost share in a highly competitive commercial vehicle market. The new product launches mentioned above will help accelerate momentum in the car business, said a top company official.
Balaji said the investment of Rs 8,000 crore will be in products and technologies, a large part of it was showcased at the Auto Expo, and the company will focus on executing the plans to sustain the growth momentum. The company will be additionally investing Rs 30,000 crore in the JLR business as committed earlier for FY24.
With Inputs from Shruti Mishra – Autocar Professional
Also see:
Tata Punch CNG launch imminent, production begins
Tata Nexon EV hits 50,000 sales milestone