Tata’s First All-Wheel-Drive Car Spied, And It’s An EV!

Tata Motors has already confirmed that the Harrier EV, which will be the all-electric version of the standard ICE Harrier, is soon coming to the Indian car market. Recently, the first detailed spy shots of this particular EV SUV have been shared online. These spy shots give us an in-depth look at the first all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle from the company. This particular Tata Harrier EV was spied testing in Leh.

Electric Motor and AWD Configuration

These pictures of the new Tata Harrier EV with an AWD system have come courtesy of CarDekho. Starting off with the main highlight, these pictures reveal the presence of a rear-axle-mounted electric motor. This configuration suggests that the Harrier EV will be available with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option.

Tata Motors will be offering dual electric motors with the Harrier EV to achieve the AWD feat. One electric motor will be on the front axle, while the other will be on the rear axle. It can also be noted from the spy shots that Tata Motors has upgraded the rear suspension of the Harrier EV to a multi-link setup.

This new setup replaces the standard ICE Harrier’s torsion beam setup. The company most likely made this change to accommodate the electric powertrain with dual motors. Other benefits of this new suspension setup are improved ride quality and handling characteristics of the vehicle. Experts believe that it will make the ride a lot smoother and more responsive.

Harrier EV Range

At the moment, not much is known about the exact size of the battery that will be offered with the Harrier EV. However, the company is expected to offer a driving range of over 500 km on a single charge. Additionally, the vehicle is likely to feature Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging capabilities, which we have already seen on the new Nexon EV facelift.

Tata Harrier EV: Exterior Design Changes

Apart from the main highlight of the electric powertrain, the new Tata Harrier EV will also get some exterior design alterations as well. While it will retain the familiar silhouette of its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterpart, there will be several EV-specific design tweaks that will set it apart. The major change at the front of the Harrier EV will be a new closed-off grille.

This particular design statement is common among modern EVs. The car will also get a connected LED DRL at the front, similar to the Harrier ICE. It will also sport redesigned alloy wheels tailored for the EV. They will be five-spoke aero-disc style alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the rear will also get a connecting LED taillight and a slightly tweaked rear bumper.

Tata Harrier EV: Interior Design

Unfortunately, there are no spy shots of the interior of the upcoming Tata Harrier EV. However, it is expected to carry forward the same layout as the ICE model but could get different color theme. The main highlight of the dashboard will be the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It will offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There will also be the same 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. Other features will include dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a panoramic sunroof with ambient lighting, and possibly ventilated and powered front seats. Most likely, it could also get a gesture-enabled powered tailgate.

Safety Features

Coming to the safety features, most likely Tata Motors will be offering the Harrier EV with up to seven airbags, a 360-degree camera with blind view monitor, electronic stability control (ESC), and others. It will most certainly also come with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Its features could include adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, among other features.

Tata Harrier EV: Launch Timeline, Expected Pricing, and Competitors

According to reports, Tata Harrier EV could be launched in early 2025. However, some reports have suggested that it could come as late as March 2025. As for the starting price for this highly anticipated electric SUV, it is expected to be around Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom).

As for the competition that the Tata Harrier EV will face in India, it will be taking on rivals like the Mahindra XUV.e8, Hyundai Creta EV, MG ZS EV, and BYD Atto 3. In addition, it will also be competing with the Maruti Suzuki eVX, which will be the brand’s first electric vehicle in India.