Rumour: Tata Harrier won't get all-wheel drive

Earlier this month, we had reported that the Tata Harrier will not get all-wheel drive at launch. Now, according to a media report, the SUV is not likely to be offered with an all-wheel drive system in the foreseeable future.

The Harrier is based on the OMEGA platform that is derived from Land Rover's L550 architecture. It has been reported that packaging an all-wheel drive setup with the Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine would require significant modifications and the propeller shaft to be re-positioned. The higher cost of re-engineering and the low demand for all-wheel drive SUVs in the segment is likely to be the reason why Tata Motors may not offer all-wheel drive on the Harrier any time soon.

At launch, the Harrier is expected to be front-wheel drive only but will have multiple drive modes. Reports suggest that an all-wheel drive version could be developed at a later stage, particularly for export markets, depending on demand and could be offered with Jaguar Land Rover's 2.0-litre Ingenium engine, as it won't require extensive modifications. Additionally, the Harrier is expected to get a hydraulic power steering instead of electric power steering.

The new Tata Harrier will be launched sometime in early 2019.

Source: Autocar India