The Tata Nexon could be the first hybrid model by the Indian automaker to go on sale. With the government’s strong push towards electrification of automobiles, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Tata Motors is working on a hybrid version of its brisk selling crossover.
Team-bhp reports that, according to its sources, Tata Motors is working on a hybrid version of the Nexon crossover. Given then all automakers are working towards making their fleets compliant with the upcoming BS-VI emission, it’s imperative for Tata Motors to get its compact crossover electrified. The company already has pure EV technology at its disposal and it would be easy to come up with market-ready hybrid powertrain.
The Nexon’s 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine would be easy enough to obey the stringent BS-VI norms with some tweaks but the 1.5-litre diesel engine could use hybridization to reduce its emission levels. Needless to say, the Tata Nexon hybrid would be pitted directly against the upcoming Maruti Vitara Brezza hybrid which is also in the works.
It’s too early to speculate about the specifications of Nexon’s hybrid powertrain but we suspect the crossover to share core components with the Tiago and Tigor EVs. In addition to reduced emissions, the hybrid powertrain is also expected to have more net power than the existing oil burner.
The current Nexon diesel variant is powered by a 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel engine which delivers 110 PS and 260 Nm of torque when mated either to a 6-speed MT or AMT. The hybrid version is expected to employ a standard automatic transmission.
Team-bhp also reports that Tata Motors has ordered about 10,000 units of electric drive modules for the Nexon from its suppliers which are to be delivered by end of FY 2018. By the turn of this decade, we are set to witness hybridization of more and more mainstream models.
