Tata Sierra – Could it be Thar competition
As a product, Tata Sierra was way ahead of its time when it came to design. The unique 3-door body styling got many people going for the car. Also, not just the design, but the car being loaded with a 4X4 drivetrain was another factor why people loved it. However, that was in the past. At present, Mahindra Thar is the most affordable yet badass product that people who love off-roading wish to buy. Moreover, the Thar being an iconic product has its unique charm. The Mahindra Thar, however, has no competition in the country, as of today.
If Tata revives the Sierra (it possibly could since the concept was showcased in Auto Expo), positioning it in front of the Mahindra Thar would be a battle of two iconic products that nobody would want to miss. Also, a product with 4WD would also help fill the void in the brand’s current portfolio filled with 2WD cars. In this article, we will look at Tata Sierra and what do we expect from it if it launches in the modern era.
We do know that the Sierra has be shown by Tata as an EV concept. In this story we are speculating what we know about the brand, it’s portfolio, capability, engine options and other resources it has. Is it possible? Lets find out.
Design
Tata would want to keep the design similar to the original car as that was a crucial factor behind its success. Yes there will be the Impact 3.0 design language in place but with hints of the old car. We expect Tata Sierra to be brought as a 3-door as well as a 5-door. The 3-door might be called ‘Sierra’ whereas the 5-door variant could be called the ‘Estate’. Bringing a 5-door along with a 3-door variant would benefit the brand as well as the customers. The brand would get to position it against the 3-door Mahindra Thar as well as the 5-door Thar, which is said to be in the works. For the customers, they would get to choose between a 3-door and a 5-door, depending upon their requirements. A 5-door version is perfectly suited for people who love off-roading and wish to travel with their family as well.
Specifications
Tata Sierra is mostly expected to share the platform & engine with the Harrier & Safari. The Sierra could thus come powered by the same 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel engine that makes 168bhp and 350Nm of torque. It would be based on the Omega-Arc platform which is derived from Land Rover’s D8 platform. Also, being a lifestyle product for the outdoors, it could come sat on chunky off-roading tyres. As mentioned above, it should be a product with 4WD capabilities. Tata could however offer it with a FWD only also, suited for people who just wish to experience the iconic nameplate but do not go for off-roading.
Features
Tata would want to focus on the Sierra with convenience as well as off-roading features that it could provide. Shift-on-the-fly 4X4 system, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, a touchscreen infotainment system with off-roading data, connected car technology and a premium sound system could be some of the prominent features.
Tata Sierra Pricing
We expect Tata to keep the Sierra positioned between the Harrier and the Safari. Positioning it here would help Tata cater to the needs of varied customers. People who wish to go for a regular 5-seater family could go with the Harrier. For people who wish to enjoy off-roading could buy the Sierra. For people who wish to buy a big family car, they could opt for the Safari. Thus, we expect the premium 4X4 SUV to start somewhere around Rs 15 Lakhs (0n-road, Mumbai). Currently the Thar is priced from Rs 14.8 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai) to Rs 16.3 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai). Tata needs as many SUVs as Mahindra is planning to fight them head to head.
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