Tata Motors showcased the svelte E-Vision electric sedan concept at the recent Geneva Motor Show based on the Impact 2.0 design philosophy. The immediate future, which will see a premium hatch and compact sports utility vehicle debut based on the two new platforms developed in-house. Two concepts based on these were showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo last month where Pratap Bose, Head of Design, Tata Motors, discussed the road ahead.

What stage of development are the two concepts 45X and H5X at? Can you also tell us more about the two new platforms?

The X usually stands for any number or represents a crossover. In our case, what it actually talks about is the two concepts’ architectures ‘Alpha-arc’ and ‘Omega-arc’. The larger ‘Omega-arc’, on which the H5X is based on is the Land Rover platform, the Discovery Sport is based on this.

On the other hand, our own ‘Alpha-arc’ also gives us a certain range of cars that we can do — everything from about 3.85-4.3 metres (in length) is possible from this platform. The larger one can help build vehicles from about 4.1-4.6 metres. So we will be able to cover about 90 per cent of the automotive market with just these two platforms.

The other advantage it offers is that since the architecture is so well defined, we can do top hats much faster. So this brings with it benefits to the company such as efficiencies, modularity; and on the market facing side it brings benefits such as shorter gestation to market and more variety in body size and shapes. This will give us the ability to respond quicker to the direction that the market is taking.

Could you throw more light on these concepts?

If you see the 45X, we have made it 4.25 metres, which is longer than the common hatch in India. We have made its dimensions larger just to show the extremity of the platform. The reason why we chose to represent the platform vehicle to be a hatch was because we are not present in the premium hatch segment.

So, that will be our first product in the pipeline from this platform, though the 45X concept’s 4.25 metres length represents the envelope of what one can achieve with this platform.

On the other side is the H5X, which is an extremely capable global platform, with all the architecture in place. We adapted a few things for India such as the variations to the second row of seats.

This concept is much closer to the production form than the 45X is. All the design cues are there and it will come through in the production car. So, it is not like we are showing something that will be very different from what will eventually be commercially launched.

This second generation of impact design is defined by these two architectures. And we build into the architecture and platform all the design metrics and technical parameters such as the cabin to body ratio etc since the platform usually lasts 15 years on an average.

Given the life of these architectures, have you also built into these platforms the possibility of going fully electric?

Yes, hybridisation, electrification and a combination of such powertrains have been planned and provided for right from when work began on them three to four years ago. We started from scratch and we are talking about a 15 year horizon, so that is past the year 2030. So, my view is that the second generation of products on these platforms will, most probably, straightaway be electric. Tata Motors also wants to take the lead with electric.

Are both these platforms equally versatile in their ability to deliver vehicles of all types?

Both of them are equally versatile, though what you see here as the representations of these platforms are the lead products generated from them. So, the hatch is the lead product from the smaller Alpha-arc and the sports utility vehicle is the lead product for the Omega-arc. And that is the reason why we chose these as examples.

These are absolutely targeted and meant to plug specific holes in Tata Motors’ portfolio. With Nexon we reached about 70 per cent of the addressable market. But the premium hatchback market is about 300-3,50,000 units per annum market. We don’t have a play in that market as also in the monocoque SUV market.

So there are parts of the market where we do not have a product offering. These platforms will help fill the gaps where the market exists and is growing. We also need to offer our customers upgrade options.

A lot of design elements and features showcased at concept cars in events like these haven’t really made it to production cars. How different are the 45X and H5X going to be?

You are right about this, but that was mostly in the past. With the Nexon we broke that trend. The H5X will be similar, in that about 80-85 per cent of its current form and content will make it to the production car. The 45X is more of a platform demonstrator, and yet all of the design cues of the concept will be found in the premium hatch that will be born out of it.

I always say that coming to an auto show is a bit like going to an Indian wedding. You put a bit of makeup, do your hair or get your nails done, basically take a little effort to look special when you go to a marriage ceremony. But when you strip all of that makeup off you still recognise the person. These concepts will be like that.

Are some of the new design elements from these concepts likely to become signatures for future vehicles?

Yes, some of the subtle, yet strong signatures like the ‘Tri-Arrow’ you will definitely start seeing in our future cars. We want to get to a point where you can immediately identify even a grille without a logo or a dealership wall and you know that the brand is Tata Motors. Design identity should be in every interface or touch point dealing with the customer. So the font we choose, the textures we will have should all be consistent.