7-Seater Tata Harrier To Launch This Year

• Reportedly, the 7-seater Harrier will be 62mm longer than the 5-seater variant

• It will be based on the same Land Rover-derived OMEGA ARC platform as the five-seat Harrier

• Should be powered by the same Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine, but in a higher state of tune, like the Jeep Compass

• Expect the extra millimetres in length to be added post the c-pillar to accommodate the third row

Tata is all set to launch the Harrier SUV on 23 January 2019. And while the launch is still a few days away, the carmaker has already confirmed that the 7-seater variant of the Harrier will also go on sale in 2019. On a previous occasion, Tata had confirmed us that 7-seater Harrier will happen by 2020. The latest confirmation is by Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors, who has reportedly said that the seven-seat Harrier will be part of a “firework of launches in calendar year 2019”.

As confirmed before, the 7-seater Harrier will share its underpinnings with the 5-seater Harrier. However, it will be longer than latter in order to accommodate the extra two seats. To put a number, the 7-seater Harrier will be 62mm longer and will measure 4660mm. The wheelbase, on the other hand, will remain unchanged at 2741mm.

The similarities between the two (5 seater and 7 seater) is not expected to be limited to the underpinnings. Aesthetically, the 7-seater Harrier is expected to look largely similar to the standard Harrier till the C-pillar. Post that it might look a little different to accommodate the extra length. Tata is also expected to announce a new name for the 7-seater variant of the Harrier in order to avoid any confusion.

Like the styling and underpinnings, the larger Harrier will also borrow the Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine from the standard model, but it is expected to be present in the higher state of tune, same as that of the Jeep Compass. In Harrier, the 2.0-litre motor makes 140PS/350Nm, while in the Compass it produces 173PS/350Nm. With the 7-seater variant, Tata is also expected introduce an automatic gearbox. It is likely to be Hyundai-sourced 6-speed AT torque converter unit, which is found in the Hyundai Tucson.

When launched, the 7-seater Harrier will rival the Mahindra XUV500. It will also take on the 7-seater variant of the MG Hector, which will be launched in India after the launch of the 5-seater Hector in June 2019. The three-row Harrier will be priced at a premium over the standard Harrier, which is expected to be priced from Rs 13 lakh to 18 lakh (ex-showroom).

Source: cardekho.com