Tata Motors showcased the Hornbill HBX Concept at the Auto Expo 2020. It was one of the vehicles that generated the most interest at the Auto Expo 2020. The production-spec Hornbill HBX is a hatchback with a lot of SUV design elements. The test mules of the HBX has been spotted quite a few times but here is a production-spec mule of the Hornbill HBX that has shed off some of the camouflage.
We can see that the Hornbill HBX is finished in blue colour. This is the same blue colour in which the Nexon EV is offered. Tata calls this colour Signature Blue colour. We can also see that the other Hornbill HBX is finished in Glaciar white colour. From the spy shots, we cannot tell if the HBX has a different coloured roof but we can tell that it will have a floating roof design. As we can see that the A, B and the C-pillar are blacked-out giving a floating roof effect from the side profile.
Up-front we can see a split headlamp design just like we have seen on the Tata Harrier and the Tata Safari. The upper strip is a turn indicator which might also double up as a Daytime Running Lamp on higher variants. The upper strip integrates with a piano black grille that also houses the Tata Motors logo.
We can see that the bumper is finished in black is a chunky unit. It might be possible that when the SUV finally hits production, the bumper is body-coloured. There is a lower air dam which is ranked by fog lamps. The bonnet is flat and will remind you of the bonnet on the Nexon.
At the side, there are diamond-cut alloy wheels that fill squarish wheel arches. There are no immediate rear door handles because they have been positioned on the C-pillars instead of the door itself. This gives a three-door effect to the car. We have seen a similar design on the Tata Altroz and the Maruti Suzuki Swift. The turn indicators are placed on the outside rearview mirrors and the front doors door handles are also finished in body colour.
Then we come to the rear where we can see LED tail lamps that are circular but also stretch across to the side panel of the hatchback. The rear bumper is also a black one. We can see reflectors mounted in the bumper and there is also a high-mounted stop lamp.
The interior will have also have funky elements like squared air conditioning vents that will match the body colour. There will be a touchscreen infotainment system that will come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There will be an analogue speedometer with a TFT screen for the instrument cluster.
Powering the production-spec HBX will be a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that we have seen on the Tiago, Tigor and the Altroz. The engine produces 85 bhp of max power and 113 Nm of peak torque. Tata will offer the HBX with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT.