The Tata Harrier SUV was caught testing in Spain by our friends at Motor.es. The Harrier that was spied is the one currently on sale in India and not the facelifted version, which will launch in the coming months.
- Pre-facelift Tata Harrier being tested in Spain
- Is equipped with the same 170hp 2.0-litre diesel
- Being tested for WLTP emissions certification
Why is the Tata Harrier being tested in Spain?
This test mule of the Harrier was exported from India to Spain not by Tata Motors but by Vitesco, which supplies multiple automotive components to the carmaker. The vehicle being tested is fitted with the 2.0-litre Stellantis Multijet diesel engine, which is BS6 Phase 2 compliant.
We are told that some sensors related to emissions requirements were being tested on the Harrier in order to see how it performs on the WLTP testing cycle, and likely against more stringent emission norms as well. This, however, does not confirm or point towards the brand's intention to sell the Harrier in the European market.
These tests on the Harrier could have been merely conducted to prepare the SUV for the next round of emissions norms in India – especially for diesel vehicles – which could be stricter than the new BS6 Phase 2 regulations.
The Harrier and its three-row sibling, the Safari, are expected to continue with diesel powertrains for some time as diesel is still quite dominant in this segment, and CNG would be “a segment too far” for these SUVs, as Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, told Autocar India recently.
Tata Harrier, Safari facelifts launch timeline, details
The Harrier and Safari are currently being readied for mid-life updates and these will include major cosmetic tweaks on the outside, a revamped interior and more tech as well. Production of the updated Harrier and Safari is likely to begin next month.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
Dipan Sur
