Tata Motors' Gravitas India launch in first half of FY2021

Tata Motors' Gravitas made its India debut at the 2020 Auto Expo ahead of its launch in the first half of FY2021 (in the April-September period). The seven-seat sibling of the Tata Harrier, the Gravitas – was first showcased at the 2019 Geneva motor show as the Buzzard SUV.

To accommodate the extra row of seats, Tata has extended the rear overhang but kept the wheelbase the same. The roof is now stepped at the rear and the side windows are larger too in a bid to improve comfort for those seated in the third row. Access to the third row would be via a folding middle row with a one-touch flip and fold function.

Other differences on the Gravitas include a tailgate that is more upright than the unit on the Harrier, and tail-lights that with a different design. However, it gets the same black strip that runs between the tail-light clusters. The rear bumper, too, is unique to the Gravitas.

The rest of the car is the same as the Harrier, with a split headlamp setup, a faux skid plate low on the front bumper, and Tata’s ‘Humanity Line’ design element. Interior bits are also shared between the two.

The Tata Gravitas also brings with it a more powerful BS VI-compliant derivative of the Harrier’s 2.0-litre engine. Power is now up to 170hp, up from 140hp, while torque remains the same at 350Nm. What, however, stands out as the biggest change is the addition of an automatic option – the Harrier was available only in manual. The 6-speed torque converter automatic unit has been sourced from Hyundai, and is now offered on the Harrier as well, along with the more powerful BS VI diesel engine, also showcased at the Expo. As with the Harrier, the Gravitas is also expected to be a two-wheel drive model.

The Gravitas will directly rival the Mahindra XUV500 and, in essence, replaces the Hexa in Tata’s line-up to become the brand’s new flagship SUV.