Tata Motors recently showcased the 7-seater version of the Harrier SUV at the Geneva Motor Show called the Buzzard. When launched in India, the seven-seater SUV will be dubbed the Cassini. Based on the name of an official satellite launched through the collaboration of NASA with ESA, Tata’s H7X, now going by the name Cassini is one of the most anticipated SUVs of the year.The European markets will still be getting the H7X by the name Tata Buzzard.
Like the Tata Harrier, the Cassini, too, is based on a platform derived from the Land Rover Discovery Sport and adopts Tata’s Impact 2.0 design language. Visually, the Tata Cassini looks similar to the Harrier, donning the slim LED DRLs, a honeycomb grille, flared wheel arches and the three-dimensional taillights.
The Cassini is based on the OMEGA platform which is a derivative of the Land Rover’s D8 platform. Powering the new seven-seater SUV will be the same Fiat Multijet 2 derived Kryotec diesel engine, however, it will be tuned to have a higher output of 172PS, similar to the Jeep Compass. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, but unlike the Compass, Tata will also have the option of a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission that it has sourced from Hyundai.
The Tata Cassini is expected to be the flagship model which will sit above the Tata Hexa and could be priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 21 lakh. With this pricing, it could share the market space with the Toyota Innova and the Mahindra XUV500.
There is no official word from the manufacturer about the launch of the Tata Cassini, however, we expect the Tata’s seven-seater to go on sale in India by this festive season, weeks after the launch of the Altroz.
