The Tata Hexa launch has been shelved to January 2017 to streamline production and cater the expected demand. Now with time on hand, as per recent speculations, Tata is mulling introduction of the Varicor 320 mill to the Hexa line-up.
We have been saying for some time that to ensure success of the Hexa, Tata needs to get the pricing right. With these recent speculations, we think, Tata is working towards getting it right this time. The Varicor 320 engine is already being offered on the Tata Safari Storme and the Tata Aria. It is the same engine in a lower state of tune and producing 140bhp of power and 320Nm of torque as against the 160bhp of power and 400Nm of torque of the Varicor 400 that is being offered with the Hexa. Hence, plonking it in would involve absolutely no added costs.
Tata can offer this engine on the entry-level variant of the Hexa and get the price tag lower than what it could have done with the Varicor 400. Also, with a slightly better fuel economy, having the Varicor 320 across the range might offer Hexa buyers a cost competitive option for the same set of features and comfort. The Hexa Varicor 320 would come only with the five-speed manual gearbox and will miss out on the driving modes offered on the 400.
One look at the competition, the XUV500 and the Innova Crysta, it would be natural for the Hexa to have an automatic option for the mid variant. Hence, Tata might offer the base variant XE only with the Varicor 320 engine with the five-speed manual, the XM with the manual Varicor 320 and the Varicor 400 with both manual and automatic gearbox and the XT with the Varicor 400 and both gearbox options.
The variants offered for the Tata Hexa might be as follows:
Tata Hexa XE 320
2179cc, 148bhp, 320Nm, 5-speed manual
Tata Hexa XM 320
2179cc, 148bhp, 320Nm, 5-speed manual
Tata Hexa XM 400
2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed manual
Tata Hexa XMA 400
2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed automatic
Tata Hexa XT 400
2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed manual
Tata Hexa XTA 400
2179cc, 154bhp, 400Nm, 6-speed automatic
