[tushky]

Originally Posted by AdityaDeane

..
Rushlane reports a sighting of Tata Hornbill (source)

The video title says X451 OR 45X. It is the code of upcoming hatch from Tata. So it is not hornbill for sure. And as per my information, the profile of Hornbill is similar to Suzuki Ignis or Jeep Renegade. So the car in the video is Tata 45X.

[AdityaDeane]

Originally Posted by tushky

The video title says X451 OR 45X. It is the code of upcoming hatch from Tata. So it is not hornbill for sure. And as per my information, the profile of Hornbill is similar to Suzuki Ignis or Jeep Renegade. So the car in the video is Tata 45X.

I too thought the same, and hence wrote the following statement in the end:

The shared image looks more like a hatchback than a micro SUV front face.

If the hatchback in the image is smaller than the Baleno-Elite i20 Premium Hatchback rival 45X, it may just be a Tiago facelift undergoing testing on the new platform and with Impact Design 2.0 that will replace the current car in a year or two! Just a thought...

[volkman10]

Tata Hornbill micro-SUV concept to debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March.

The production-spec Hornbill is expected to debut in February 2020 at the Auto Expo in Delhi.

The Hornbill concept will hint at the production model, which will be aimed squarely at the Mahindra KUV100, the production version of the Maruti Future S concept and Hyundai’s all-new micro-SUV that is expected in 2023
The Alpha platform has been designed to accommodate Tata’s 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Revotron petrol

Link

[FIAT3031]

I really doubt if the HORNBILL will ever see the light of day.
Similar to RACEMO Concept, this may be just another concept that TATA will showcase at Geneva Motor Show 2019.
I guess Geneva will be a test ground for Tata to further gauge media & customer response to this pseudo SUV

Looking at the current models: KUV 1OO & Ignis - both models have failed to garner sales for either OEMs.

Positioning wise, the Hornbill will sit below the Nexon - thereby cannibalizing the Nexon, Tiago & Upcoming X451.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by FIAT3031

Positioning wise, the Hornbill will sit below the Nexon - thereby cannibalizing the Nexon, Tiago & Upcoming X451.

Why below Nexon?

I believe Hornbill is the Nexon replacement. Nexon the last of the stop gap projects in the generation next lineup, like Hexa, Zest, Bolt etc - which were all meant to keep things running till the real new generation products arrived.

If you look at the figure in the presentation from TATA - Hornbill competes with X451 for size and has much more road presence. This isn't likely to go below Nexon, and this is the modern premium B+ product range from TATA.

I bet Hornbill would replace Nexon directly or eventually, the same way H7X will replace Hexa.

[tarik.arora]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Why below Nexon?

I bet Hornbill would replace Nexon directly or eventually, the same way H7X will replace Hexa.

I too feel the same. If i am not mistaken, Nexon is built on the age old Indica platform which is pretty heavy. Tata needs a better platform for next gen Nexon and Horbill might be just that.

[discoverwild]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Why below Nexon?

I believe Hornbill is the Nexon replacement. Nexon the last of the stop gap projects in the generation next lineup, like Hexa, Zest, Bolt etc - which were all meant to keep things running till the real new generation products arrived.

I bet Hornbill would replace Nexon directly or eventually, the same way H7X will replace Hexa.

Agree with you. And since it will eventually replace the Nexon, I don't think Tata will be in a tearing hurry to make the Hornbill. The Nexon is the current game changer for Tata, after the Tiago. It will take a while for the Harrier to make an impact. Tata will be looking at the H7X and ironing out the variants in the current cars and probably the EV range as well. My guess is that the car is at least 2 years away from being showcased.

[notjustshrawan]

The Hornbill is a different segment, its a micro-SUV, to come with a 1.2L NA petrol engine, much like the Vitara Brezza-Ignis positioning. You are right, the next-gen Nexon will also shift to the AlfaARC, but that is to come only after 2022.

Originally Posted by discoverwild

Agree with you. And since it will eventually replace the Nexon, I don't think Tata will be in a tearing hurry to make the Hornbill. The Nexon is the current game changer for Tata, after the Tiago. It will take a while for the Harrier to make an impact. Tata will be looking at the H7X and ironing out the variants in the current cars and probably the EV range as well. My guess is that the car is at least 2 years away from being showcased.

[nainan]

Hornbill render from Cartoq.

source

[FIAT3031]

Originally Posted by tarik.arora

I too feel the same. If i am not mistaken, Nexon is built on the age old Indica platform which is pretty heavy.

Nexon is built on the Bolt Platform.

Coming to the point of replacing the Nexon, then it would really not make sense for Tata to make a model with such high level of structural rigidity (BNCAP Score 5 star)

Also Tata is doing good numbers with the Nexon, roughly 4,500 units/month.
So for any OEM it would not make sense to simply discontinue a model.
(Launched in 2017 and discontinue by 2020~21 just does not make sense)

Hexa, Yes was a make shift arrangement until TATA got its new products to the market.

[digitalnirvana]

Originally Posted by notjustshrawan

The Hornbill is a different segment, its a micro-SUV, to come with a 1.2L NA petrol engine, much like the Vitara Brezza-Ignis positioning. You are right, the next-gen Nexon will also shift to the AlfaARC, but that is to come only after 2022.

Sorry for being pedantic, but it is the OmegaARC. Whoever came up with it must love their acronyms.

[notjustshrawan]

Originally Posted by digitalnirvana

Sorry for being pedantic, but it is the OmegaARC. Whoever came up with it must love their acronyms.

No it is the AlphaARC (AMP or Alfa platform), OmegaARC is the Q platform for the Harrier and Harrier+.

[tarik.arora]

Originally Posted by FIAT3031

Nexon is built on the Bolt Platform.

Coming to the point of replacing the Nexon, then it would really not make sense for Tata to make a model with such high level of structural rigidity (BNCAP Score 5 star)

Also Tata is doing good numbers with the Nexon, roughly 4,500 units/month.
So for any OEM it would not make sense to simply discontinue a model.
(Launched in 2017 and discontinue by 2020~21 just does not make sense)

Hexa, Yes was a make shift arrangement until TATA got its new products to the market.

And Bolt is built on the X1 platform that Vista and Manza were built on!

Though, i agree with you logic on discontinuing a successful model for no reason. But somehow i have a feeling that Hornbill may never see the light of the day in its current form and will eventually end up being a sub 4-metre SUV just like Nexon. This is purely a gut feeling with no logic to back it!

[vaasscit]

With the dismal performance of all micro SUVs in the market till now Ignis (backed by mighty Maruti) & KUV (Very ordinary effort from Mahindra), it is indeed a brave move by TATA to bring out this.

Somehow, I've a gut feeling that if done well(Petrol-AT, nice interiors and good space) , this car will sell in decent numbers. Why ? Indians love their SUVs (one of the main reasons for the success of KWID)

It can draw customers from Hyundai Santro and Maruti WagnoR with the looks and image.

[peterjim13]

Just a long shot, but I feel that by the time the Hornbill comes out in flesh for customers to buy, we might get a refreshed Nexon which would move up the price ladder and hence, HornBill would find its on place to fill in.

The low numbers of KUV doesn't mean that there arent any buyers for micro SUV's - I just feel that Mahindra couldnt do a neat job by utilizing this opportunity (with a dismal effort).