Tata Motors might not be a big name in Europe and the U.S., but it one of the most important carmakers in Asia. Founded in 1945, Tata is now selling a wide range of cars and commercial vehicles, but it's better known for owning Jaguar Land Rover, which it purchased from Ford in 2008. The Indian company is now trying to expand in markets outside Asia, and it's joining the bigger, global auto shows with new concept cars. One such vehicle is the H5X, which was launched at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show as a preview for an upcoming crossover.

Tata says that the H5X "provides a glimpse of the future generation of Tata Motors SUV's in terms of design, technology, and sheer capabilities" and that it sports the brand's upcoming design language, called the Impact 2.0. It's also the first vehicle based the new Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced Architecture, which developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. Local media says that the production version will be aimed at crossovers like the Jeep Compass and the Mahindra XUV500 in India. But needless to say, the H5X will probably hit global markets as Tata's first truly contemporary crossover sometime in 2019.

Continue reading to learn more about the Tata H5X Concept.

2018 Tata H5X Concept

Specifications
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  • Model: 2018 Tata H5X Concept
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Pros
Cons

Tata H5X Concept Exterior

- Sporty, stylish design - Rugged bumpers - Floating roof - Small lights - 80-percent of design to go into production

While it previews the first production model to use the new Impact 2.0 styling language, the H5X isn't the first concept to show it off. We've already seen it on the Tata E-Vision sedan and the two vehicles share many features, starting with the very slim headlamps and the solid, glossy grille. The somewhat clean bumper looks massive and includes big foglamps with black bezels at the corners. Tata calls this design a "tri-arrow" pattern. Down below, there's an actual grille that feeds air into the engine, but it's just as slim as the main one above. A big skid plate rounds off the simple yet muscular-looking front fascia.

Around the sides, we can see pronounced character lines and massive wheel arches housing big wheels. The mirror caps are placed higher than usual on the A-pillars, while the door handles have black inserts. The blacked-out B and C-pillars and the split D-pillars give a floating roof effect. The beefy side skirts feature "H5X" lettering right below the doors.

The H5X’s rear end is highlighted by thin taillights that stretch over the entire width of the fascia. The lights are placed rather high, which leaves room for a really small rear window. While it looks sporty, especially since it has a sizable spoiler, it probably doesn't provide the best rearward visibility. Below the taillights there a big dent that basically splits the fascia in two. Below this point, we once again have a rather clean design with big "H5X" lettering and two fake vents onto the sides. The black-painted bumper looks massive.

Tata said that about 80 percent of this design is going into production, including the 3D taillights and the sloping roofline. The latter is a brand-new design element for Tata and will definitely make the H5X stand out in its niche.

Tata H5X Concept Interior

- Digital instrument cluster - Big infotainment display - Wood veneer - Aluminum trim - Four-seat layout

The interior looks particularly interesting for a Tata and sports all the high-tech you’d expect to find in a modern car. There’s a digital instrument cluster and a big infotainment screen, while the center stack has a clean design thanks to most of the controls being placed on the center console or just below the main screen. A big chunk of wood placed on the center dash gives the interior a premium look. The leather upholstery and the aluminum trim also helps.

There isn’t much info about what tech it will feature, but Tata says it will get "intelligently designed plush interiors, future-ready connectivity, and infotainment."

Judging by the big digital screen, it should have plenty of cool and useful features, maybe borrowed from Jaguar Land Rover, but it remains to be seen if the production model is just as fancy. The seats seem very comfortable and the rear compartment appears to offer loads of legroom for the passengers.

The concept has a four-seat layout, with the center console extending toward the rear, where it includes two tablet-like touchscreen for access to the infotainment system. The rear section also features wood veneer, which surrounds the door panels and the upper part of the seats. There's some on the center console too, alongside piano black trim. While the concept has two separate seats in the back, the production model will have a five-seat layout, with an option to order a seven-seat configuration.

Tata H5X Concept Drivetrain

- Land Rover underpinnings - Diesel engine - 2.0-liter Fiat unit? - Nine-speed automatic likely

Tata didn't have much to say about the drivetrain either, but it did mention that the H5X is the first vehicle based on its new Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced underpinnings developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. The architecture is derived from the Land Rover D8 platform, which underpins the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque, and Jaguar E-Pace, and was adapted for Indian road and climate conditions.

The engine remains a mystery, but the spec sheet mentions a diesel unit. Chances are the production H5X will get Fiat's Multijet II diesel engine which currently powers the Jeep Compass, among other vehicles. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder oil burner cranks out 168 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque in the Compass, which would be more than enough for a crossover the size of the H5X. The nine-speed automatic transmission could be borrowed as well.

Conclusion

Although it's quite popular in India and other Asian markets, Tata is rather unknown in Europe and U.S. outside the fact that it's the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover. The Indian company wants to change that perception, and the H5X seems like the right vehicle to do so. Sure, we could argue that it's just a concept for now and that a production model might not be as fancy, but even a toned-down version of the H5X would look better than anything else Tata has built so far. The Land Rover underpinnings should give it great reliability and off-road capability too. If Tata manages to design an appealing interior with premium-like features, the H5X could be a winner. Not just in India, but in Europe and the U.S. too. Given that Tata will indeed take it there, that is.

References

Read more details about the 2018 Tata 45X Concept.

Read more details about the 2018 Tata E-Vision Concept.

Read more Geneva Motor Show news.

Read more Tata news.