At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Tata Motors showcased five cars, amongst which was the international unveil of its new flagship 7-seater SUV - the Buzzard. The Buzzard is the European-spec name for the 7-seater Harrier and probably won’t be carried over to India when the car is launched here. While it is based on the same OMEGA ARC platform as the Harrier, the Buzzard still looks distinct, especially in its Geneva Edition colours.
From the front, the Buzzard looks identical to the Harrier SUV with those dual-function DRLs above the large projector headlamps positioned in the large front bumper.
The Buzzard is 63mm longer than the Harrier and in profile, it looks more like its Land Rover cousin with its taller rear end. However, the wheelbase is the same as the Harrier at 2741mm.
It also gets roof rails and is 80mm taller than the 1706mm-tall Harrier.
It also has a larger rear-quarter glass for third-row occupants.
Around the back, the Buzzard gets a reworked tailgate design along with updated LED tail lamps. It also has a roof spoiler and sizeable rear bumper cladding.
The Buzzard Geneva Edition featured a set of 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside the cabin of the Tata Buzzard, there is nothing to differentiate it from top-spec Tata Harrier that was launched in India in January 2019. The interior has the same faux wood elements, free-standing 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, large parking brake handle, manual gearbox and even the same steering wheel. The Buzzard is after all production-ready and scheduled to launch here in 2019 itself.
The middle row in the Buzzard gets a 60:40 split fold function and are similar to the one seen in the Harrier. The left-hand side of the split seat tumbles forward for access to the third row.
Finally, the most distinctive feature of the Buzzard over the Harrier - third row seating. The two seats have lower bases which opens up headroom in the already tall design of the rear end. The third row seats can be split fold 50:50 and also offer individual blower controls for the passengers.
The Geneva Edition of the Buzzard features a suede leather roof liner but that is not expected to make it to production. The absence of a sunroof, however, may be compensated by a glass roof option that is likely to be offered on the final production model.
The Buzzard is likely to share the same 2.0-litre diesel powertrain as the Harrier but perhaps in a more powerful state of tune. Tata may also introduce a 6-speed automatic transmission option apart from the standard 6-speed manual.
When launched in India later this year, the Buzzard is likely to be priced at a premium over the Harrier, which ranges between Rs 12.69 lakh to Rs 16.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). While the Harrier takes on the Jeep Compass, the Buzzard will rival the Mahindra XUV500.
Source: cardekho.com
