[GTO]

Mod Note: Our Hexa Report has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!

Big shoutout to Vid6639 for shooting these pictures & his coverage of the Auto Expo. Thanks for sharing, man!

After the Aria's positioning debacle, the Hexa will be marketed as an SUV! It surely is more SUV'ish in this much improved version of the Aria. With all these add-ons and features, don't expect it to be cheap. As long as Tata keeps the pricing realistic for what's on offer, the Hexa has a better chance at success than the van-like Aria:


Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ABS + EBD + Corner Stability Control, Vehicle Dynamic Control (basically ESP), Traction Control and Engine Drag Control System (stops tyres from locking if you decelerate on slippery surfaces):


Smart front-end with a hexagonal grill pattern, chrome accented humanity line and 3D ‘T’ Logo:


There's no escaping the fact that this car is a newer version of the Aria. The dimension sheet reads 4764 x 1895 x 1780 (L x W x H) with a 2,850 mm wheelbase. The size & contemporary styling gives it fantastic presence:


Smoked projector headlamps:


Foglamps with a DRL strip above:


A look at the body cladding. It's tastefully applied, not excessive:


19" rim design doesn't suit the car. Production version will surely not have this 235/55 R19 size:


Matt-black D-pillar. Window is the same as the Aria - what's different is the panelling around it (check out the Aria here). Wraparound tail-lamps have LEDs:


Dual exhausts with one on either side (just the way we like it!):


154 BHP diesel with 400 Nm of torque, same as the Storme Varicor 400 (driving review):


6-speed MT as standard. The bigger news is that the Hexa will come with an optional 6-speed Automatic:


Expertise from Land Rover comes in the form of 4 driving modes - Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Rough Road:










Cyrus Mistry & Tim Leverton:

[GTO]

Black interiors are in vogue & how! Doorpad gets a body-coloured strip. Bottle holder with long storage pockets:


Clean, contemporary & functional dashboard is an improved version of the one we saw in the Aria. Part quality is good. There's even soft-touch material on the left (where you see the HEXA imprint):


Steering wheel from the Zest with some subtle changes. Not cool - a premium car like this needs a more upmarket steering. Hexa is equipped with cruise control:


Classy instrument console. Very understated, very tasteful. Shows you exactly which door is open:


Land Rover expertise on the AWD variant. The MID shows you the chosen driving mode:


Comfort mode. I doubt Tata will give the Hexa variable dampers. Might just be the steering & drivetrain settings:


Auto activates AWD as required (when slippage is detected):


Rough appears to be the full-time AWD mode:


Control knob for the 4 different driving modes:


Head-unit is a straight lift from the Zest. 5" touchscreen is too small for a cabin of this size:


JBL sound. 10 speaker system with subwoofer & amplifier. Tata is working closely with Harman for the ICE needs of all its new cars:


A look at the 6-speed AT 4x2. Not sure if the AT will be available with AWD. It has sport & tiptronic modes:


And the 6-speed MT with AWD. Different air-con controls:


Body-coloured highlights out here. This panel has soft-touch material. Two gloveboxes:


Vid6639 says that the front seats are spacious & comfortable:


Dark / smoked chrome door lock knob :


Sunvisors with extenders:


Rear doorpad with a speaker + tweeter:


And pull-up curtains! What a blessing these are in our sunfilm-less times:


Captain seats are very comfortable. Adjustment for fore & aft movement and backrest recline. Space is good, but Innova Crysta has an advantage:


With leather upholstery:


Interior mood lighting colours change according to the 4 drive modes (or can be customized with a further 4 colours)! Colours are white, orange, red, purple, blue, cyan, bluish green & fluorescent green:


Seats don't tumble. Flip it forward and it hits the front seat. Entry to the last row is very bad and terribly inconvenient. Red arrow seems to be pointing toward adjustable lumbar support!


The last row:


Is like any other. Tall occupants will find under-thigh support missing:


You need to push the 2nd row seat forward for legroom:


Air-con vent, storage & cup-holder for those at the back. 3-point seatbelts too:


There is adequate room for 3 – 4 medium sized bags, even with all the three seat rows in place:


With the last row folded down (has a 50:50 split too):


Tools in a compartment underneath:

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Auto Expo Section!

[vinayrathore]

Great coverage there! TATA surely has a great arsenal up its sleeves now. If only they can instigate a sense of trust in its A$$ can they look at capturing a respectable market share. Need some high level change in the marketing strategy focusing on just that.

[shifu]

Originally Posted by GTO

It surely is more SUV'ish in this much improved version of the Aria. With all these add-ons and features, don't expect it to be cheap. As long as Tata keeps the pricing realistic for what's on offer, the Hexa has a better chance at success than the van-like Aria

Very true. The crux will be the price. Any idea on the launch date?

[drive2eternity]

Hexa surely creates an impression. Hope the pricing is not atrocious. They should keep it at par with XUV, and then hope the public laps on this Monster.

[msk_kapoor]

Why are the TATA management posing for the cameras with so tense faces. They need to be seen confident and smiling to ensure they have belief and trust on their own designs. When i see them looking like they are not sure it send negative vibes to those who sees this.

i was looking for the proper set of photos and i was so happy to see these photos. HEXA looks great in the exterior and interior, but the pricing is where the problem that Tata is going to face. Any idea when they are planning to officially launch this vehicle?

[an_and]

If Tata's have learnt their lesson, they will undercut the XUV by atleast a lakh. If they do so, then they have a killer on their hand!

[Latheesh]

That is an impressive coverage, and Hexa looks truly international. Hexa Tuff looks really awesome.

Here is the first look video by Autocar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqAt1g7te4E

[GrammarNazi]

They've done some things very differently with the re-designing & yet the steering & music system being borrowed from the Zest actually makes me feel that this'll probably be positioned much below the Innova Crysta.

A full set (4pcs) of even 18" tyres will cost close to 80k. 19" tyres could cost much more, these guys must be really quite serious about the 'driving mode' feature.

Glad they plan to offer the auto-tranny. That one single feature could be the game changer, provided they properly undercut the XUV5OO AT, with offers atleast during the introductory period.

Once fans (& those undecided people on the fence) bring in initial momentum, 'market' should recognize it as a worthy competitor.

IMO It all boils down to this : They'll have to answer why any affluent person should choose TATA over Toyota (or even XUV5OO), including 2 most important & relevant concerns - Reliability & Service.

IMO the one thing that addresses those concerns is Long Term Warranty & AMC package. They're walking a tight rope & will do really well if they do a few specific things right, introductory pricing is one of them either.

Having company leaders Cyrus Mistry (& Tim Leverton) standing next to it, I'm sure they're going to really want it to succeed this time round (Read : Numbers must go beyond a few hundred).

Anyway, kudos to them, let's see if TATA Motors' magic works this time.

[hrishik]

Tata motors has indeed taken the leap in quality with their latest offerings. An interesting marketing strategy for Tata would be to copy the Nexa model from Suzuki and differentiate their portfolio into premium and regular. The older and not so old models (like the Zest/Bolt) can be sold through the regular channel, while Nexon, Kite and Hexa can be sold through the premium channel. TML passenger cars carry a certain negative image (albeit an unnecessary one) for the upwardly mobile middle-class and a marketing split will go a long way in correcting this image. There is so much potential in Tata, it is time to realise it!

[Contrapunto]

This sure looks like a good looking, well specced vehicle. Best of luck to Tata Motors. It is hard to launch it in the same year/ event as a new Innova, Endy and with a new Fortuner lurking in the corner , a few months down the road.

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by hrishik

An interesting marketing strategy for Tata would be to copy the Nexa model from Suzuki and differentiate their portfolio into premium and regular.

Why would someone copy a flop business model?

[ACM]

The Aria with middle row bench seat would in my view be more comfortable and practical than the twin row captains.

The Captain seats don't tunble forward plus the arm rests are smaller.

[kaviprem]

Excellent coverage, GTO and Vid6639 !

HEXA looks gorgeous if I can say so.

ACM
yes, I agree with you. I would always prefer 3 seater that would give some extra space to move around or to keep handbags, etc ... if needed be.

Originally Posted by ACM

The Aria with middle row bench seat would in my view be more comfortable and practical than the twin row captains.

The Captain seats don't tunble forward plus the arm rests are smaller.