Tata Q501 SUV mule spied testing

Tata Motors has started road-testing its future flagship SUV, known by its codename 'Tata Q501', on Indian roads. The top-of-the-line SUV will be positioned above the recently launched Hexa crossover and will directly rival the Hyundai Tucson.

As we had reported earlier, the Q501 will be the first Tata product to share components with Land Rover. Key underpinnings like the basic platform and some suspension components are common with the Discovery Sport, and many of the underlying structural elements will be shared too.

Take a look at the test mule and this becomes clear. At first glance, it could easily pass off as a Land Rover Discovery Sport, but look closer and the spy pictures reveal that this is the Q501. This is clear because many of the underpinnings are different. There’s a single exhaust pipe, which clearly is a misfit in the Discovery Sport's dual-exhaust enclosure, and the other dead giveaway is the Tata alloy wheels, also used on lower variants of the Safari Storme and the Hexa. This test mule could be doing development work, either with regards to the new engine or even more affordable suspension aggregates.

Tata’s new flagship SUV, however, won’t look like a Discovery Sport. The styling will be unique to the Tata and the interior is said to follow the carmaker's new 'Impact Design' styling language quite closely. Under the hood will be a version of Fiat’s new 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine good for 172hp. This motor will make its India debut in the upcoming Jeep Compass SUV and will be locally assembled here, which will also help reduce costs.

When it hits showrooms in 2018, the Tata Q501 SUV will rival the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and the upcoming Mahindra's flagship SUV which will sit above the popular XUV500.

Comments

Honda CB Unicorn 160 vs Suzuki Gixxer comparison

There is no replacement for displacement, as goes the old American saying, with which the rest of the world often nods in agreement. Increase in the number of cubic centimeters of fuel that our engines burn, seems only to be a pleasant idea to almost every petrolhead. More power, more torque and a healthier sounding grunt from the exhaust are the common expectations from larger engines. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has walked this same path, to add 10 extra cubic centimeters of capacity to the now proven CB Unicorn engine, to make the Honda CB Unicorn 160. FROLIC FASHION Although some of the features of the older CB Unicorn have been bettered, we’ve gone ahead and pitched it right in at the deep end, to face off against the very best in the segment to find out the exact degree to which this motorcycle has improved. So, in steps the Suzuki Gixxer, a Japanese-made premium commuter that’s fast rising to the top of its segment, with enough promise to overshadow all o...

2018 Lamborghini Urus India review, test drive

On first introduction, it’s a recipe for intimidation. It’s claimed to be the fastest SUV in the world (0-100kph in 3.6sec and a top speed of 305kph puts it nearly in supercar territory), and it’s made by Lamborghini – creator of some of the most savage vehicles on the market. Things – as with any Lamborghini, for that matter – would be a lot less daunting if we were driving on a smooth European country road, a wide motorway, or even a race track. But today we’re driving the Urus on a narrow ghat road, as well as through some heavy Pune traffic. Perhaps the intention was to demonstrate that this is the first Lamborghini ever to go on sale in India that truly works in our conditions – but still, I doubt they accounted for rush hour. It’s requisitely mad to look at, employing as many ‘sporty’ design tropes to an SUV body style as possible – the only thing missing is a massive wing on the back; and somehow, it works. It’s ...

Land Rover Discovery Sport review

Two things. To start with, it’s Land Rover’s replacement for the popular and capable Freelander. It’s also the first of the models from Land Rover’s new Discovery sub-brand, one that will focus on utility in the same vein as the Range Rover line is about luxury. The Discovery Sport was shown as a concept last year and the production version’s styling doesn’t stray too far from the prototype. It’s smart, well proportioned and interesting but doesn’t have the show value of something like an Evoque. Still, there’s a certain honesty to the chunky shape which, if you think about it, more than links the Sport to the Freelander. The Sport is 91mm longer than its predecessor and also sits on a wheelbase that’s grown by 80mm. These increments, and the incorporation of a compact multi-link rear suspension, have allowed Land Rover to fit in a third row of seats, giving the Sport a big advantage over its five-seat competitors – the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. But Land Rover is being cau...

Automobilestillnow

Search This Blog