Auto Expo 2020: Tata Could Launch The HBX SUV In India During The Festive Season

• The ALFA Arc-based SUV was unveiled on day 1 of Auto Expo 2020.
• Expected to come with a 1.2-litre BS6 petrol engine from the Tiago hatchback.
• Prices are expected to start at Rs 5 lakh.
• Could be launched in late-2020.

Tata Motors has revealed that it plans to launch the HBX sub-4m SUV in India during the Hindu festive season in October. The carmaker unveiled the Nexon’s smaller sibling at Auto Expo 2020. It is likely to cost upwards of Rs 5 lakh. Once launched, the HBX will rival the Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the Mahindra KUV100.

Just yesterday, Tata’s Vice President of Global Design, Pratap Bose, confirmed in a tweet that the HBX will be launched in India this year and that it is “not really a concept.”

In its production form, the HBX is expected to be equipped with the Tata Tiago’s 1.2-litre BS6 petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. An AMT is likely to be offered either at launch or a few months hence.

Compact car features such as a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, climate control, and steering-mounted controls are likely to be offered on the HBX.

The HBX’s curvy styling contrasts the H2X’s straight edges. In the front, it gets LED DRL brows with headlamps mounted lower down. At the rear, sharp LED tail lamps complement the cutesy aesthetic.

Inside, the H2X’s futuristic gadgetry has given way to a more conventional dashboard. From the steering wheel to the air vents and climate controls, everything looks production-ready.

Although the compact SUV segment in India is aggressively contested, the HBX is likely to sit in a relatively unpopulated niche alongside the Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the Mahindra KUV100. Before it even makes it to production, the HBX seems to have the advantage of a proper SUV stance and sweet proportions. We can’t wait to have a go in this one.