Tata Motors’ largest passenger vehicle – the Hexa – has disappeared from the company’s official website. That’s usually a sure-shot sign of a car retiring for good. But is Hexa’s case a bit different? Will it make a return like a Bollywood hero does after being beaten to near-death? The reason why it might happen is that there were reports which suggested Tata Motors would graduate the Hexa to survive in the BS6 (Bharat Stage 6) era.

We thought otherwise as keeping it alive didn’t make any sense whatsoever. We had my reasons. One, the Hexa had Tata’s outdated platform which wouldn’t have supported the newer, and cleaner powertrains. Two, the vehicle never sold in respectable numbers as it was essentially a heavily redone Tata Aria. Three, upgrading Hexa’s engine to meet the stricter emission norms wouldn’t make a good business case. And four, the Hexa would have clashed directly with the upcoming Tata Gravitas (seven-seater Harrier).

The Hexa was available with one engine and three transmission options. The 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel mill produced 148bhp/320Nm in the entry-level XE variant and 154bhp/400Nm in the rest of the range. Gearbox options included a 5-speed manual (XE only), a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic. As for the 4×4 system, that was available only in the top-end XT variant.

Tata also ensured that the Hexa had an impressive equipment list. That included a 10-speaker JBL sound system, cruise control, automatic climate control, auto headlamps and wipers, multiple drive modes, six airbags and electronic stability program with roll-over mitigation. But the biggest plus that the Hexa brought into the game was the abundance of space inside the cabin. Comfy seats, coupled with a great ride, made Hexa a great long-distance haulier.

Logic dictates that the Hexa wouldn’t make a comeback. At least not in its last-known form. But, Tata might get tempted to bring back the nameplate to fill a gap in a different segment. Or, perhaps, more recognisable Tata marques such as Safari and Sierra are placed higher in that list. What do you think?