The Harrier will go on sale in January 2019 and will be powered by a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine. But, the SUV won’t use Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ nine-speed automatic gearbox but will use a six-speed auto from Hyundai.
The FCA nine-speed auto didn’t work for the company in terms of costs for the Harrier project. Tata Motors looks to have found a good (and cost-effective) match for the 2.0-litre engine in Korean carmaker Hyundai’s six-speed torque converter automatic.
“The Hyundai transmission is well suited to the power and torque characteristics of the 2.0-litre Fiat diesel, and is significantly cheaper than the FCA transmission, so it made more sense for us to use it,” said a Tata Motors source.
It will be sold with the five-seat, 140hp Harrier, as well as on its as-yet unnamed, seven-seat, 170hp sibling. Both SUVs will be offered with Tata’s all-wheel-drive system, too.