New Tata Hexa seen in production guise ; stays honest to the concept

Note: The images have been removed temporarily following a request by AutocarIndia. The images were scanned by a reader and uploaded on his Facebook page.

Scanned images from a magazine feature show how the new Tata Hexa crossover will look on the road. The production version stays honest to the concept, which was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year in March. Essentially a re-bodied Aria, the Hexa’s appearance “unveils a new direction to the design language of future Tata SUVs”. The Hexa is expected to be launched in India during the festive season, or at the 2016 Auto Expo.

The significantly updated front fascia incorporates a fresh grille, a new bumper and a re-sculpted bonnet. Cues from this very face, replete with the honey comb patterned inserts, along with the brushed aluminium trims around the grille and air dam will be implemented on the upcoming Nexon compact SUV as well. The head lamps are carried over from the Aria, but given the smoked treatment, while the bumper also embraces independent LED DRL strips over the new fog lamps.

The sides have been retouched with new, bolder cladding, which also integrates the Range Rover inspired wheel arch trim. It’s also good to see the 19 inch, five spoke wheels with a twin-spoke design making their way to the production lines as well. The Aria’s boring glasshouse has been freshened up with a kink or two, while the chrome strip running along the window line’s base looks noticeably upmarket, and so does the blacked out D-pillar.

At the back, the Aria’s “Christmas Tree” lamps have been given the boot, with the Hexa getting conventionally styled, horizontally aligned LED tail lamps. The new tail gate has a thick brushed aluminium strip running across it, bridging the tail lamps. The crisply styled new rear bumper comprises of new reflectors and fog lamps, along with a brushed aluminium skid plate that hosts dual, chrome tipped exhaust finishers, one at each end. The show car’s boring matte white complexion has been replaced by this new, tasty “champagne gold” paint-job as well.

 

The Tata Hexa Concept (2015 Geneva Motor Show)

 The Hexa crossover will feature the same 2.2-liter VARICOR engine from the Aria and the updated Safari Storme, but will be stoked to produce 154.21 hp and 400 Nm of maximum torque, with a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system to be offered as an option. Transmission options will include the obvious 5-speed manual and an all-new 6-speed automatic, which has been developed by GMPT (General Motors Powertrain). The Hexa, like the Aria is a large car and measures 4764 mm long, 1895 mm wide, 1780 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2850 mm.

 

Inside, the Hexa concept packs 6 seats with captain seats for second row, along with 6 air-bags to save you. The dashboard design is all new and features a touch-screen infotainment system with Android smart-watch/smartphone connectivity, automatic climate control, a double barrel instrument cluster with a LCD Multi Function Display and the new Tata family steering wheel. Other features include LED ambient lights on the inside, full leather seats, HVAC vents for the second and third row. Drive assist features on offer include a Land Rover derived Terrain Response System (Adaptive Suspension), ABS, ESP, auto headlights and auto wiper functionality.