Tata Motors to launch 5 new vehicles in 2017-18; all you need to know

Tata Motors is gearing up for a string of product launches in the coming year. The Mumbai-based carmaker has received a much-needed reboot with the positive response received by the Tiago. The hatchback also flaunts its new Impact design language, and many models bearing this new design theme are in the pipeline that will help the company refresh its portfolio.

With over five models being planned, Tata Motors is also aiming to become the third biggest carmaker in India by 2020. Here is a list of the new vehicles that Tata Motors plans to launch over the next two years:

Tata Hexa
Hexa is the flagship vehicle of Tata Motors, and also the second model to be rolled out wearing the Impact design language. The vehicle is expected to be launched in January 2017. It will be powered by a 2.2-litre engine that is tuned to generate 154bhp and 400Nm of torque. While the transmission in XE, the Hexa entry-level variant, will be taken care of by a five-speed manual gearbox, all other variants will get either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. The SUV will feature four drive modes — Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Rough Road. Hexa will go up against Toyota Innova Crysta.

Tata Kite 5
Tata Kite 5 is code name of the compact sedan sibling of the Tiago hatchback. Rumoured to come with the production name Sway, the compact sedan will take on the likes of Maruti Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Volkswagen Ameo and Ford Figo Aspire in India. The Kite 5 will share 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel motors with the Tiago. While the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine will churn out 83.8bhp of power at 6,000rpm and 114Nm of torque at 3,500rpm, the all-new 1.05-litre, three-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine will develop 69bhp of power and 140Nm of torque. Both engines will be available with multi-drive modes — Eco and City.

Tata Nexon
The compact SUV space and the success of the Vitara Brezza cannot be ignored. Tata's offering to the burgeoning segment will be the Nexon. The first prototype of the vehicle was showcased at Auto Expo 2016 and the company is currently testing the vehicle in various terrains. Under the hood, the compact SUV is likely to get a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The transmission in the model is likely to be taken care of by six-speed AMT box. Launch of Nexon can be expected in the second half of 2017.

Tata Pelican
Tata's new small car project has been code-named Pelican, and it is expected to be a copiously reworked next-gen Nano. The small car will be based on the updated X302 platform of the current Nano. The Pelican is expected to come in both petrol and diesel mills. The diesel mill will be a two-cylinder 800cc diesel engine. The project is expected to see the light of the day by the end of 2017, and it will be produced at Tata Motors' Sanand plant in Gujarat.

Tata X451 premium hatchback
The X451 (code name), which will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Elite i20, would be designed to look like an SUV with the comfort of a car. The X451 will be a new model with ground up design that will take inspiration from the Nexon compact SUV. The X451 will be based on Tata's Advanced Modular Platform (AMP). It is expected to go into production in 2018.

Tata Tiago Aktiv, Tiago Plus
Tiago is also expected to get many new variants. The Tiago Aktiv will be a crossover version while the Tiago Plus will be a performance-oriented vehicle. Tiago Aktiv is expected to become the most affordable offering in its segment when launched. The features expected include black plastic cladding on the tailgate, a skid plate at the rear, dark-coloured alloy wheels and cladding around the body.

On the other hand, Tiago Plus will join the hot hatch segment of India that has Fiat Abarth Punto and will soon get the Baleno RS. It will be powered by a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol motor that can belt out a power of nearly 120bhp. It may also get a sporty body kit, including side skirts and body decals.