[landcruiser123]

Originally Posted by discoverwild

You are comparing apples and oranges. One is a ladder on frame while the other is a monocoque. You would have also read about the issues with thinner metal.

Technically, why do you think a Hexa should weigh lesser than a Fortuner?

Both are Body-on-frame designs.

The Hexa might be smaller than the Fortuner. Even if it not, there has to be progress in Engineering. I believe every generation of cars have to get lighter OR if the car grows, the car shouldn't proportionally gain weight.

The current fortuner on sale is a design from 2006, and 10 years later- progress should be achieved via some weight reduction. See why below.

Originally Posted by prakash_ajp

Factually speaking, Hexa is heavier than Fortuner by approximately 10%. And it is a longer and wider vehicle (bit shorter, though).

Why vehicles should be light is answered by Aditya:

Originally Posted by Aditya

... the weight is crazy. Lower kerb weight would have given it better acceleration and braking as well as handling and off-road capability.

Add FE to that list. (although that wouldn't really be a deal breaker for a Hexa Owner)


At the time when Land Rovers really cutting huge amounts of flab, I don't know why we're behind competition. Cost is a concern when we're talking about new materials, but each vehicle getting heavier is not really good for the vehicle and the environment.

[starter]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

The Hexa weighs a whopping 2.3 tonnes? That's Fortuner territory.

I thought fortuner was around 1850-1900 kgs.
I don't think fortuner weighed 2.3 tons.
EDIT: I see that the new one is around the 2.2 tons.
So maybe you were referring the upcoming one.

[McLaren Rulez]

Pretty unfortunate that the third row can't fold flat. This is one of those things that really makes life difficult - and needlessly so.

Perhaps that cupholder panel can be redesigned quickly.

[RavenAvi]

Motor World India's review is out.

But what truly impresses you is the 6-speed automatic. Gearshifts are extremely smooth and this is by far closest you could get to a dual clutch automatic. Even while accelerating, gear changes are seamless and Tata engineers have done a fantastic job at tuning this autobox. There is a Sports mode and a tiptronic mode available here. The tiptronic mode feels fun to drive as you are continuously riding on this massive wave of torque, but the Sports mode really brings the engine to life. There is something called as the Race Car mode that constantly keeps the engine between 3,000-4,000 RPM, and this is especially fun on a twisty section of road. This mode pumps up your adrenaline, and we are thankful to Tata Motors to have thought of something like this, especially in this segment where most cars are biased towards comfort and the back seat experience. Although we would also like to inform you that in this mode the engine gets a whole lot boomy, more so than the manual counterpart.

(Source)

[rkg]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

Pretty unfortunate that the third row can't fold flat. This is one of those things that really makes life difficult - and needlessly so.

Perhaps that cupholder panel can be redesigned quickly.

Remove the third row head rest, it folds flatly. I have ARIA, it is same and it folds fully and flatly. Even the second row also. Cup holders have nothing to do with folding of seats.

[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

Pretty unfortunate that the third row can't fold flat. This is one of those things that really makes life difficult - and needlessly so.

Perhaps that cupholder panel can be redesigned quickly.

From the looks of it, it seems that it is not the cupholder panels which are fouling, but the 3rd row seat headrests which are preventing the 3rd row seat from folding completely flat. It is possible that they may need to be removed or moved up to ensure that the seats fold down flat.

[discoverwild]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

0
One thing that's really getting annoying is the weight of these new body-on-frame cars. Like the Honda City, I would like to see the cars getting lighter.

The Hexa weighs a whopping 2.3 tonnes? That's Fortuner territory.

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

Both are Body-on-frame designs.

The Hexa might be smaller than the Fortuner. Even if it not, there has to be progress in Engineering. I believe every generation of cars have to get lighter OR if the car grows, the car shouldn't proportionally gain weight.

The current fortuner on sale is a design from 2006, and 10 years later- progress should be achieved via some weight reduction. See why below.

You compared the build of a ladder-on-frame to that of a monocoque. Different abilities, different perspectives to build. Already mentioned the disadvantages of using thinner sheet metal. A change to alloy or aluminium is only make the vehicle more expensive.

Not sure if the Fortuner is larger than the Hexa. Taller, maybe.

No offense meant, anywhere.

[PrasannaDhana]

I think we are going overboard with 2.2 tonne weight being a negative when it comes to performance, handling and efficiency.

For an example, I own a Safari Dicor, which i use to transport my farm stuff once every month. The load ranges from 500-750kg, plus 2 adults and the already obese Safari's weight. It hauls 3 tonnes totally, without a fuss. I don't experience even a slight change in the way it drives or performs.

Attached a pic for reference on full load.

Hexa is said to handle way superior than the tall heavy Safari. The Varicor400 is 18bhp and 80NM superior to my Safari Dicor, I am very sure it will be one capable highway cruiser. Tata's are heavier usually, and they come as solid well built cars.

As a potential customer, Hexa 's weight is a positive to me rather than a thing of worry. And who expects anything more than 12 kmpl on a full size 7 seater diesel SUV/MUV? If one wants fuel efficiency, Lodgy and BRV are waiting!!

[RavenAvi]

Taking the technical specifications a segment upwards - comparison between the Tata Hexa, Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Innova Crysta, Ford Endeavour and the upcoming Toyota Fortuner.

(Click on the image to open in a *NEW* window)

Note = Thai-spec Fortuner's technical specifications used in the above table.


Meanwhile, testing continues. Spotted by Sharad Desai at Hassan, Karnataka, last night:

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by mkaysaw

Looks like a great effort by Tata. As mentioned by everyone, pricing would be key. Sidenote: Did they straight-up use the gear levers from 07 / 09 Range Rovers? Wonder what other components from JLR they used?
Also, if they could market the use of common Daimler upholsterers, why not market the use of common JLR parts?

A Tata user would smile ear to ear while telling his friends that his Hexa has parts, which are/were useld on JLR products. Won't be the case when a Land Rover user is asked by his friends about the usage of parts on LR being used on the Hexa.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

A Tata user would smile ear to ear while telling his friends that his Hexa has parts, which are/were useld on JLR products. Won't be the case when a Land Rover user is asked by his friends about the usage of parts on LR being used on the Hexa.

Just the same way a ferrari owner would feel when he is asked about the usage of parts from Fiat.

Tata owns JLR and it is a good thing to Tata users, while it is never a possibility for a JLR car to get Tata's parts.

Any manufacturer would want to evolve into usage of better parts, and Tata is no different. I presume JLR will get better parts too.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Attachment 1568946

Is the glove box covered with leather/art leather? Or is it just the imitation of leather stitching in plastic itself? If it is the latter, it looks like a cheap gimmick.

[discoverwild]

Don't see anything wrong there. Both are Tata brands. Nothing to fret about unless quality is a downer.

[prakash_ajp]

Originally Posted by Guna

Is the glove box covered with leather/art leather? Or is it just the imitation of leather stitching in plastic itself? If it is the latter, it looks like a cheap gimmick.

There are people who could call it 'cheap' even if its art leather; the ones who would only settle for real leather. So, the right thing to do is to checkout the vehicle in person, feel what it is like and then conclude.

For me, just looking at the picture, it looks alright. I wouldn't worry about it, unless the car cost about 60 lakh or something.

[Black_Beast]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Still, it's a very good vehicle with excellent ride quality. The autobox and Super drive modes are great as well. The manual transmission isn't.

Most people say MT is bad, while same 6Speed is present in Safari Storme, is HEXA's badder than storme's?