Nissan India's Top Official Reveals Launch Timeline Of Tekton And 7 Seat Tekton-based SUV
The Japanese automaker Nissan, in the last few years, has been surviving in the Indian market with only the Magnite. However, things will now change for Nissan as it has already launched its second product, the Gravite, in India and has confirmed the launch of the new Duster-based mid-size SUV, the Tekton, and its 7-seater version. Although the Tekton was slated to launch a while ago, recently its new launch timeline has been confirmed by a senior official from the company.
Recently, Nissan India’s Managing Director, Saurabh Vatsa, revealed a few fresh details about the launch timeline of the upcoming Tekton mid-size SUV. According to Vatsa, the Tekton will now be officially revealed in July this year. We now have a date: July 9th! Earlier, it was expected to have its official debut around April of this year. However, Nissan India has now confirmed that the launch timeline has been slightly pushed ahead.
The company has stated that the SUV is currently undergoing final validation and testing procedures. Nissan has also highlighted that the Tekton is no longer in concept form, and it is now very close to its final production-ready version. Vatsa stated that the company is currently in the “preparedness phase” before the SUV officially hits the market.
One of the biggest highlights of the Tekton mid-size SUV will be its bold yet classy styling. Nissan has internally nicknamed this SUV the “Baby Patrol.” For those who may not be aware, the Patrol is the brand’s flagship full-size luxury SUV, which competes against models like the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 and Range Rover in the international markets.
The upcoming Tekton will be heavily inspired by the Patrol’s muscular and upright design language. It is expected to feature an imposing front fascia, chunky proportions, squared-off wheel arches, and a high bonnet line, and all of these will provide it with a very strong road presence.
The upcoming all-new Tekton will be based on the CMF-B modular platform. This is the same architecture that currently underpins the latest-generation Renault Duster. This platform has been designed to be very modular and offer multiple body styles, hybrid technology, and advanced safety systems.
Nissan India, just like Renault, will reportedly be offering the Tekton with three engine options. The first will be a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine producing 100 bhp and 166 Nm of torque. This engine will come paired only with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It will mainly target buyers looking for better fuel efficiency and lower pricing.
After this, there will be the much more performance-focused 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine. This motor will produce 162 bhp and 280 Nm of torque. As for the transmission options, this engine will offer a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed wet dual-clutch automatic gearbox. This particular engine is expected to become one of the most powerful petrol engines in the mid-size SUV segment, like its cousin, the Duster.
This particular motor is very special as it has been co-developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance along with Mercedes-Benz. Internally, it is known as the HR13 1.3L TCe engine. This motor has been designed to provide very strong mid-range performance for effortless highway overtaking ability.
Lastly, Nissan will also be offering the Tekton with a 1.8-litre strong hybrid powertrain. This setup will combine a petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In total, this powertrain will offer a combined power output of 162 bhp along with 172 Nm of torque. This hybrid version will be best suited for long-distance drivers who want higher fuel efficiency and a smoother city driving experience.
The upcoming Tekton, like the new Duster, will be packed with features to the brim. Its main highlights will include a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker Arkamys sound system, and a panoramic sunroof.
Apart from these, it will also be offered with a powered tailgate, powered front seats, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, rear AC vents, a wireless smartphone charger, an electronic parking brake, 48-colour ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, a Level 2 ADAS suite, and connected car technology.
Once launched, the Nissan Tekton will rival SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, and its cousin, the Renault Duster.
Apart from the standard 5-seater Tekton, Nissan is also working on a larger 7-seat SUV, which will be based on the same platform. As per the reports, the 7-seater version of the Tekton will be making its debut around 6-8 months after the launch of the standard Tekton.
When compared to the standard Tekton, this SUV will be longer, wider, and taller in order to accommodate a third row of seats. In terms of styling, it is expected to continue with the same Patrol-inspired design language. However, Nissan could also introduce a slightly different design to differentiate between the two models.
On the inside, the 7-seat SUV is expected to offer the same set of features and dashboard layout as the standard model. As for the powertrain, most likely the 7-seater Tekton will only be offered with the 1.3-litre turbo petrol and the 1.8-litre strong hybrid petrol. The smaller 1.0-litre turbo petrol might not be offered with this SUV.
This SUV is expected to be priced between Rs 17 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. Once launched, it will be taking on the Tata Safari. Nissan is expected to aggressively position this SUV in order to attract buyers looking for affordable, family-oriented premium SUVs.
With the launch of the Tekton and the new 7-seat SUV, Nissan will finally have a much stronger SUV lineup for the Indian market. These upcoming SUVs could play a major role in helping the Japanese automaker regain its lost market share in India.