The new Harrier SUV which we know as the H5X concept from the Auto Expo earlier this year is gearing up for a market debut. Tata Motors have officially revealed that the Harrier will launch by early 2019 and will slot in a segment to rival the likes of Hyundai Creta. The Harrier will be a 5-seater SUV and a 7-seater sibling would be launched later.
The Harrier will be the first car from the brand to come with the IMPACT 2.0 Design language. However, the highlight is the new OMEGA architecture. Here, OMEGA stands for ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’. While Tata Motors will use this platform to spawn new models in the years to come, this is reportedly the most advanced chassis the brand is going to put to use.
The Harrier is being pitched as a robust, luxurious, stylish, practical and a comfortable SUV – all in one. But will it deliver? We will have to wait till we get out hands on it to understand better. Looking at how well the market has accepted the Nexon compact-SUV, we think Tata Motors will have a winner on their hands with the Harrier if all goes well (including price & product).
Developed on the basis of a Land Rover D8 chassis, the new OMEGA platform sounds very promising. For a 5-seater monocoque SUV, this chassis is expected to deliver dynamic driving abilities and also fare well when indulging in off-road. The chassis has been worked for torsional and bending stiffness. The brand will make use of auxiliary isolation panels for cabin quietness. The high strength steel is expected to make the car safe, along with crumple zones.