Tata Harrier To Get New BSVI-ready 2.0-litre Diesel Engine

After teasing us with glimpses of its much awaited Harrier SUV for quite some time, Tata Motors has now dropped some more details on the engine of the upcoming Jeep Compass and XUV500 rival.

The Harrier will debut a ‘newly developed’ 2.0-litre diesel engine which Tata calls ‘Kryotec,’ taking inspiration from the cryogenic rocket engines as a symbol of their power and reliability.

While Tata has not shed any light on the performance and efficiency figures as of yet, it is widely speculated that Kryotec is more or less a re-engineered Multijet 2.0-litre diesel sourced from FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automotive). The same engine on the Jeep Compass makes a hefty 173PS at a peak torque of 350Nm.

We believe the Kryotec would also be capable of generating power figures upwards of 150PS on the new Harrier. And the BSVI-compliant engine on the upcoming SUV will also be paired with an eVGT (electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger) to eliminate any traces of turbo lag. Given the chunky size of the SUV, this is surely a welcome addition to the Harrier.

The engine will also feature a low friction valve train architecture and an advanced EGR system to meet the stringent emission and efficiency norms under BSVI. Tata says this engine has also been tested extensively on the Harrier for endurance under harsh conditions, and optimized for spirited performance.

Tata has also equipped the Harrier with multi-drive modes that work along with its terrain response system with aspirations of Range Rover-esque on-off road capabilities. Essentially, the Harrier is based on the same platform that also underpins the Land Rover Discovery Sport, so it is more than capable of supporting a 4x4 drivetrain with some serious off-roading capabilities. Needless to say, we expect Tata to do justice to the LR platform and offer a 4x4 variant of the Harrier that feels as much at home off the road as on it.

With a likely release early next year, the Harrier looks all set to heat up competition in the booming SUV segment. Do watch this space for more on the Harrier and let us know if it ticks all the right boxes or not, in the comments below.