First Tata Harrier rolls off the production line

So this is it. Tata Motors has put out footage of the very first Harrier rolling out of its plant in Pune, revealing the eagerly awaited SUV in full for the first time.

The new video, which shows the Harrier’s face and rear profile, also mentions how the assembly line for it was set up at the carmaker’s Pune plant in just six months.

As the launch of the Tata Harrier nears, we got our hands on some juicy details about this new SUV a few days ago. A dealer communication document reveals that on-road prices for the Harrier will be in the range of Rs 16-21 lakh. At this time, Tata Motors has also officially begun accepting bookings for the Harrier. The booking amount is set at Rs 30,000, and prospective buyers can even book the SUV online. Market launch and the price announcement for the Harrier are likely to take place in early January, with deliveries expected to commence in the second half of the same month.

Tata Motors has been dropping several teasers in the build-up to the launch and has said the SUV has been tested for 2.2 million kilometres on the toughest of terrains, and its engine has been christened ‘Kryotec’. Tata says the name is inspired by the cryogenic rocket engine, known for its power and reliability. There’s no official word on exact engine displacement or power and torque figures, but, as is widely known, the engine is derived from Fiat’s four-cylinder Multijet II diesel unit that powers the Jeep Compass and is expected to make around 140hp in the Harrier.

Tata Motors also previously confirmed the Harrier will come with multiple drive modes that will work in conjunction with the terrain response modes of the ESP.  A seven-seat variant will follow, powered by a more potent 170hp version of the same motor. For the Harrier, there will be two gearbox options – a 6-speed manual and a Hyundai-sourced 6-speed automatic.

The Harrier will get premium interiors and features like push-button start, steering-mounted controls, and a large (possibly 7.0-inch) touchscreen infotainment system.

The Tata Harrier will take on a range of SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV500, Renault Captur, and the upcoming Nissan Kicks.