[lazy]

Folks

Any idea whether the new SUVs will be showcased in the upcoming Auto Expo ?

On a related note - is it even proper to do road testing using the body shell of another vehicle? How can this be useful for understanding high speed dynamics, braking, etc the dimensions and weight of the donor body-shell may be different from intended one.

cheers
lazy

[anandpadhye]

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

Played around with photoshop cause saw something different in the rear axle. Going through the pictures one thing I noticed is the way rear axle is, no independent rear suspension like on the original Discovery Sport. Looks like this SUV will be FWD, with option of AWD. I hope this is the case. The pictured car doesn't power rear wheels.

Oh my goodness, you have an eye for the detail if what you infer is right, then will this be "another first" from Tata? FWD SUV based on Land Rover inputs?

[condor]

Originally Posted by lazy

On a related note - is it even proper to do road testing using the body shell of another vehicle? How can this be useful for understanding high speed dynamics, braking, etc the dimensions and weight of the donor body-shell may be different from intended one.

Most of the handling related behaviour would depend on the frame & suspension. The actual body would be tested for aerodynamics in a wind-tunnel/simulator. If the body panels are a little heavier, or lighter - I guess it should not be too difficult to compensate for that by removing non-essential parts / adding load.

[motorworks]

somehow not convinced with this whole thing that Tata is testing their new SUVs under the shell of a Land Rover discovery! Would it not be difficult to plant the body shell of the discovery on their chassis? It wouldn't be just a straight fit for sure, and may involve a lot of customisation. And secondly why would it be the current gen discovery? Even though there have been very rare instances in the past such as this I'm not sure if this is factually correct.

[condor]

Originally Posted by motorworks

somehow not convinced with this whole thing that Tata is testing their new SUVs under the shell of a Land Rover discovery!

Not a straight fit for sure. However, JLR is known to have the expertise. Do check post in this thread mentioning the same.

On the same note, the test mules look like JLR models. But rest assured, JLR will not allow a direct use of their body designs on Tata's vehicles. The actual vehicle will be different, and we will have to wait for this to be revealed.

I for one will say Tata has done a good job in keeping the actual design a secret.

[CarguyNish]

Tata H5 SUV (Q501) to be unveiled at Auto Expo 2018

A near-production version of its Jeep Compass rival.

While both versions (5 & 7 Seater) will be based on the Land Rover Discovery Sport’s L550 platform, the SUVs are said to be completely different in terms of design and feel.

Powering it will be a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder MultiJet II diesel engine, but in different states of tune – 140hp (5 seater) and 170hp (7 seater).

Choice of Two-wheel and four-wheel-drive

Expected price - 13 lakhs for 5 Seater & 15 lakhs for 7 Seater.

Source

[SHAHBAAZ]

Many a times I have come across this Q501 being testing around in pcmc, but somehow missed out on to get close to it. Today I was able to get as much closer and listen to the sound of its diesel engine. Mind you, though it was a testing mule it was still very quiet.

[turbo_delight]

The pricing will be very crucial. Creta and XUV is already facing heat with Compass. And if they price it more than Creta, then it'll be even difficult to stand against Compass.

Can the 2.0 litre can alone demand a price of more than Creta, I doubt. And the launch price is very important to look out for as we know that the initial impression is very important. Reducing the price later on will have very little effect on the future of any product in Indian market.

[amrutmhatre90]

Spotted by IAB Reader, Tata Q501. Is it me or the rear discs are lacking ?
Waiting for this to be unveiled at the Auto Expo 2018.







Source

[asivan]

From the pictures, it seems a bit weird that the Discovery shell is still being used for testing.

Maybe the Q501 is just a Discovery rebadged? How many of us would consider buying it if that's the case?

[condor]

Originally Posted by asivan

Maybe the Q501 is just a Discovery rebadged? How many of us would consider buying it if that's the case?

It will not be so. Using the Discovery's body at this stage in the Discovery's life will eat away at the brand value of that SUV. LR will not allow it, and Tata knows well enough to bring in a new design. They have been giving us some nice stuff, and hoping for another good one here.

[narayan]

The more I keep visiting this thread, the more I keep wondering, like a few other members, how Tata is testing a all new vehicle under the shell of an existing vehicle ( that too a monocoque vehicle ). A large part of me still believes these "new" vehicles could just be watered down version of JLR vehicles ( possibly because JLR will move away from these designs very shortly ? ).

But as Condor believes, a small part of me, still thinks Tata can pull out a nice new design.

For all that you know, it could be a combination of the above 2. Use the monocoque Discovery shell but exterior bits would be different ? ( kind of like the Hexa effort ? - I know Hexa isn't a monocoque but trying to draw parallels to what the effort could be ).

[srh]

A new monocoque cannot be tested with a LR Disco body shell - in a monocoque, the whole body has structural functionality as a whole - one cannot take out sub-frames and mix match with other parts.

This will be a ladder on frame configuration. A few posts back, someone has done photoshop to determine that the rear underbody is different from a LR Disco. Which can mean one of the following:
- Entirely new design - chassis/ drivetrain/ suspension/ body , but being currently tested with LR Disco body

- Partially new design - chassis/ drivetrain/ suspension, but finally the LR Disco body will be used

The second option seems less likely considering that it will impact the LR brand negatively as a similarly styled vehicle will be available at maybe 1/3rd the cost

[teemus]

Originally Posted by asivan

From the pictures, it seems a bit weird that the Discovery shell is still being used for testing.

Maybe the Q501 is just a Discovery rebadged?

It's a normal practice for the automakers to have these "test mules"; and as the name suggests these are indeed mules with upper body of an old vehicle and underbody of the new vehicle.

This can typically be during early program development, where they are working on the suspension, chasis etc. kind of things and during these tests they run no risk of revealing the design.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

Attachment 1714572
Played around with photoshop cause saw something different in the rear axle. Going through the pictures one thing I noticed is the way rear axle is, no independent rear suspension like on the original Discovery Sport. Looks like this SUV will be FWD, with option of AWD. I hope this is the case. The pictured car doesn't power rear wheels.

Yes, and looks like its a torsion beam rear setup like FWD hatchbacks and FWD crossovers like Ecosport, Creta, Nexon etc..

So could this be a model that sits above Nexon in the Creta, SCross segment?