Saar: Sporting the company’s ‘IMPACT Design 2.0’ philosophy, it will launch in the first quarter of 2019.

We all remember the bewitching H5X Concept SUV that Tata Motors unveiled during this year’s Auto Expo. Back then, the company revealed that it will become the first product to flaunt the ‘IMPACT Design 2.0’ philosophy and will be built on a new platform called Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced (OMEGA). Now though, the homegrown automaker has officially given it a name. And it will be called the Tata Harrier.

What does it mean? As per Tata Motors, Harrier means:

“A dominant beast imbued with endless stamina and strength. Gifted with unwavering instinct. Effortlessly conquers every challenge thrown its way.”

It is worth noting that Toyota sells a mid-size SUV by the same in several international markets. That is the platform that Lexus uses to create the RX, which is on sale in India. Small world, isn’t it?! Anyway, there’s also a Harrier Jump Jet which is a fighter plane. But we won’t confuse the Tata Harrier with that, will we?

Tata Motors claims that thanks to the OMEGA platform, which was developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover and is a derivative of Land Rover Discovery’s D8 architecture, the Harrier will be “luxurious yet practical, comfortable yet versatile and power packed yet easy to drive.” In essence, the platform is monocoque in nature and the SUV will be a five-seater.

The company hasn’t revealed any further information regarding the specifications of the SUV but it is being speculated that it will be packaged and priced to take on the Jeep Compass head on. On the powertrain fronts, the Harrier is expected to come with diesel and petrol engines, both of which will be offered with manual and automatic transmissions. Both sets of engines and transmissions will be brand new. If you think about it, currently Tata Motors doesn’t have a petrol engine that is bigger than 1.2-litres.

Tata Nano Nearing End Of Production

Tata is well underway in putting the Harrier through the usual set of tests to fine-tune the recipe. Needless to say, the Tata Harrier will be a crucial player in the company’s ‘Turnaround 2.0’ business plan. Earlier it was being believed that Tata Motors will only launch the Harrier in the second half of 2019. Actually, Tata Motors has confirmed that it will launch during the first quarter of the next year.