The Tata Hexa will get the 2.2-litre engine that makes 156PS and 400Nm of torque. Although the power output is similar to the Tata Safari Storme Varicor400 SUV, the company has mentioned that engine could be tuned differently. The Tata Hexa is also expected to be offered with four-wheel drive and a multi-terrain mode inspired from Land Rover’s terrain response feature. It is likely to get ESP and airbags as standard across trims and variants.
A few months back, the Supreme Court had temporarily banned the registration of diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000cc and above in Delhi-NCR. Kerala also jumped onto the bandwagon. There were strong indications that other states were considering following the steps of Delhi and Kerala.
The Hexa’s engine is above 2,000cc, and the company is currently developing a smaller 1.9-litre diesel mill for it. The smaller engine is expected to be launched sometime next year. With the company having high expectations from the Hexa, Tata Motors had decided to adopt a wait and watch approach.
We now expect the Tata Hexa to be launched sometime around October or November this year, but there has no conformation about the same.
First unveiled to the Indian media and public at the 2014 Auto Expo in concept form, the Tata Hexa has been part of the conversation every time upcoming MPVs are mentioned. Set to replace the Aria, the Hexa has been developed in association with the Land Rover division and is expected to be in line with Tata’s current crop of cars.
The Tata Hexa has been spotted testing on several occasions but was entirely draped in camouflage. However, it was easy to figure that the test mule sports the same styling as the concept showcased at the Auto Expo. Up front the Hexa gets a large honeycomb grille that is underlined by a U-shaped chrome strip. In profile the blackened out B, C and D pillars give the roof a floating effect. The star-shaped 10-spoke alloy wheels further add to the overall appeal.
The concept that was unveiled sported a beige and black dual tone dashboard; however the colour combination might be different in the production model. The Hexa’s steering wheel will be identical to the one seen on the Zest and the Bolt. The concept showcased boasted of being the longest car in its class, ensuring ample of space for the passengers inside. Tata is also expected to offer optional captain seats for the second row passengers. Considering the current generation of Tata cars, expect the Hexa to be heavily loaded with features.
At the heart of things, the Hexa will have the same engine that we have previously seen on the Aria. The 2.2-litre diesel mill produces 150PS of peak power and 400Nm of maximum torque. The engine will come mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
The Hexa will be placed higher than the Safari Storme, making it Tata’s flagship offering. To survive in the competitive MPV segment, the Hexa will have to take on the likes of the Toyota Innova and the Mahindra Xylo. The Tata Hexa is expected to be launched in the first half of 2016 and will be priced around Rs 11 lakh to Rs 16 lakh.
