Tata Motors will soon launch a battery-powered version of Harrier. The Harrier.ev was showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year. At the same time, the homegrown carmaker has been thinking about expanding the Harrier lineup with a petrol powertrain for a long time.
A new set of spy shots has surfaced on the internet which show a camouflaged prototype of the Harrier. The latest spy images have reportedly been clicked at a fuel station while it was en route to Lonavala, near Pune city. The pictures show the Harrier test mule refuelling at the petrol bunk.
Tata Harrier petrol spied
Although completely under wraps, the front fascia doesn’t show any indication of visual changes. For reference, the Harrier, along with its three-row sibling – Safari, were given a major facelift in September 2023. The RushLane report mentions that the operator in the refuelling station has confirmed that the prototype was indeed powered by a petrol engine.
The addition of a petrol engine option to the Harrier range holds great significance for Tata Motors. For starters, it will diversify the Harrier lineup and make it a stronger rival to the likes of Mahindra XUV700, MG Hector, and Hyundai Alcazar, all of them offering a petrol engine option. Secondly, the addition of petrol variants will give Harrier a lower entry-level price point which will Tata bring more buyers.
Tata Motors has developed an in-house 1.5-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine which was officially unveiled in October 2023. This power mill is capable of producing 168 bhp and 280 Nm of peak torque. While Tata Motors hasn’t confirmed a specific gearbox for the same, it is most likely to be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox and the brand’s new 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox.
As of now, Tata Harrier is only offered with a 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel engine sourced from Jeep. This engine churns out 168 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque. The motor can be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
