India’s best selling SUV, Tata Nexon, might soon get a CNG variant, spied testing with emission test equipment
Tata might soon equip its best seller, the Nexon compact SUV, with a CNG variant. A test mule of the SUV has been spotted by MotorBeamer Shahid with an emission testing equipment hinting the same.
Tata Nexon is currently the best-selling SUV in India and is regularly among the top 5 selling cars. Even last month, it was the second best selling model in the country after Maruti Suzuki Wagon R with a YoY growth of 127 percent.
One of the greatest secrets of Nexon’s success is the kind of options it offers customers. There are a humongous 67 variants on offer across the 1.2-litre petrol, and 1.5-litre diesel engines with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions.
The Nexon also offers 2 electric variants – EV and EV Max which, according to reports, have contributed maximum to the SUV’s overall sales every month. So, there’s a Nexon for each and every kind of buyer out there.
But, the competition has upped the game now. Hyundai has launched the all-new Venue and Maruti Suzuki is coming up with the second generation Brezza. Mahindra is also readying a performance-oriented XUV300 and the XUV400 EV.
So, a CNG variant of the Nexon could be the company’s answer for the competition. With soaring fuel prices, people are already on the lookout for alternate fuels. Currently, there’s not even a single compact SUV with the option of CNG.
Like how Nexon enjoys monopoly in the EV segment, it could also do the same with the CNG if Tata brings the model before everyone else.
If launched, the CNG kit will come paired to the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine that currently puts out 118 HP and 170 Nm. As usual, there would be a drop in performance on the CNG mode. The test mule sports alloy wheels which means Tata might offer the option on a top variant.
The CNG variant is likely to command a premium of Rs. 20,000/- over the variant on which it’s offered.