Tata Gravitas Petrol Expected In 2020 Alongside Harrier

A new 1.6-litre petrol engine with direct injection is being developed by the Indian carmaker

• The Gravitas is the 7-seater version of the Harrier. 
• It made global debut as Buzzard at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March. 
• It will launch in February 2019 with the 2.0-litre diesel engine. 
• Tata to introduce 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine in the Harrier range earliest by 2020.
• The Gravitas should also be powered by the same.

Tata premiered the Buzzard, which is known as the Gravitas in India, with great fanfare at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March. Tata also announced a new petrol engine for the Harrier range on the sidelines of the Swiss show. The engine in question has a displacement of 1.6-litre and features direct-injection -- a first for Tata Motors. 

While the carmaker has not confirmed the timeline for the introduction of the new in-house developed petrol engine, it is expected post the implementation of BS6 emission norms. Hence, it is safe to assume that the petrol-powered Harrier would see the light of day sometime in the second half of 2020. The Tata Gravitas should get the same engine as and when Tata plans to introduce it in the Harrier. 

Tata is yet to reveal the official specs of the new 1.6-litre engine, but we know that it will get an optional automatic transmission. The auto option would initially be a torque converter unit, probably the 6-speed AT that Tata will soon introduce with Gravitas and Harrier's 2.0-litre Fiat-sourced unit. However, the torque converter’s days are limited as Tata will replace it with an in-house developed DCT shortly. 

It also remains to be seen whether the new 1.6-litre petrol engine would feature turbocharging in the Harrier and Gravitas. Ideally, it should as all prime rivals of the Tata SUVs offer turbocharged petrol engines like the Kia Sletos, MG Hector and the Jeep Compass. 

A 1.6-litre direct-injection model would produce power between 140 PS and 150PS, while the torque would be in the range of 250-300Nm, thanks to turbocharging. Almost all the SUVs in the Rs 10 lakh to 20 lakh bracket offer a petrol engine option and it is about time Tata joined the bandwagon, especially with the Harrier and the Gravitas. 

Related: Tata Gravitas: 5 Things You Should Know