The Tata Sierra’s big bang launch included a special surprise, with the brand confirming all-wheel drive is in development for both ICE and EV variants. Speaking to Autocar India, Tata Motors’ Chief Commercial Officer Vivek Srivatsa confirmed a launch for the ICE version in early 2027.
- Tata Sierra’s ARGOS platform supports AWD
- Sierra EV with AWD launch expected in 2026
- AWD ties into Tata’s legacy says CCO
Tata Sierra AWD potential
Sierra AWD launch will see Tata offer an ICE all-wheel-drive for the first time in 5 years
Making all-wheel drive possible is ARGOS, Tata’s new platform that underpins the Sierra. The brand says ARGOS (All-terrain Ready, Omni-Energy and Geometry Scalable Architecture) is a future-ready platform that can support different body styles, vehicle lengths as well as multiple powertrains (namely, petrol, diesel, CNG and hybrid). The monocoque platform is primarily front-wheel drive but also supports all-wheel drive configurations. Mohan Savarkar, Tata’s Chief Product Officer underlined this, confirming, “This platform can take ICE all-wheel drive.”
While the Sierra EV goes on sale next year in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive formats from launch, the arrival of the ICE-powered AWD model will mark a comeback to the niche segment, being the first ICE 4×4 model since the Hexa bowed out in 2020.
Tata Motors did return with 4x4s earlier this year with the launch of the Harrier EV, but an ICE 4×4 is not part of the line-up. As we have reported in the past, the diesel-powered Harrier and Safari could not be made AWD without a significant reengineering, costs for which were not justified by projected sales volumes for these variants.
The case for a Tata Sierra AWD
Tata Harrier EV AWD accounts for 35 percent of flagship electric SUV’s sales
Discussing the case for a Sierra AWD, Vivek Srivatsa said, “One of the reasons we went for the ARGOS was to make the Sierra AWD capable. We’ve seen over the past few years the need for an AWD as a personality increasing among Indian consumers.”
Interestingly, the AWD version makes up 35 percent of Harrier EV sales, a figure that exceeds Tata’s initial projections.
Srivatsa also conceded that an AWD ties in with Tata Motors’ legacy. “if you look back we are an SUV maker to start with and there was a lot of push back when we moved away from 4WD and we thought this is the right car to bring it back.”
The Sierra will go on sale in front-wheel drive form with three engine options – a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol and a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel. Which engine and gearbox combos will get AWD is not known at the moment.
