2015 Land Rover Defender and the Tata Aria could share platforms! May be produced in Pune, India!

Tata Motors taking over Jaguar-Land Rover is giving rise to a few pleasantly surprising synergies, with the latest buzz suggesting that the next generation 2015 Land Rover Defender could share its platform with the next generation Aria. That ain’t all, the 2015 Defender could be a made-in-India model exported all over the world as a completely knocked down kit, for local assembly elsewhere. Also, the 2015 Defender is expected to feature a body-on-ladder construction. Does this mean that the next generation Aria also will go the body-on-ladder way?

Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept

It seems like as both the Defender and the Aria are set to share the same platform. Also, the 2015 Defender and the Aria Crossover we hear, could use plenty of common parts, ranging from the engines and transmissions to the interiors and the suspension. The main idea behind building the 2015 Defender in India will be to keep a tight leash on costs, thus making the off roader accessible to a large section of buyers. The next gen Aria will also benefit from this alliance as vast improvements in quality levels could be had, making the Aria an outstanding product in its class.

Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept

The 2015 Defender is said to be closely based on the design of the butch and futuristic looking Land Rover DC100 concept. Tata is also building a new engine plant at Chikli for manufacturing engines for the upcoming Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel sedan. This plant is expected to cater to the 2015 Defender as well, with local sourcing for components to reduce costs. All in all, this move is a landmark one when it comes to demonstrate the finesse in Indian build quality to a worldwide audience and Tata Motors really seems to be using the synergies gained from the JLR acquisition to the fullest potential.

Source: ICB

Tata Aria Automatic showcased at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo!

Tata Aria Automatic Concept

We brought you wind about an automatic version of the Tata Aria doing the testing rounds a while ago and here is some proof. Tata Motors revealed the automatic version of the Aria at the ongoing 2012 Indian Auto Expo. The Aria, which represents Tata Motors flagship vehicle will get a G85 six speed automatic gearbox with tiptronic function. This automatic gearbox will feature three modes, comfort, economy and sport modes.

The Aria Automatic presented at the exposition is still a prototype which means that these specifications and external appearances might change on the production versions. The Aria Automatic also featured plenty of visual changes like roof rails, a roof spoiler and a clear lens tail lamp to distinguish it from the different versions of the Aria 4X2 and 4X4, which are in production currently. The Aria in automatic guise gets more power and torque, at 155 Bhp and 400 Nm respectively.

On when this gearbox will make it to production Arias is still something we’ve got to wait and watch out for. Nevertheless, what is very interesting is that this gearbox could also arrive into the Safari Storme in due course of time, more so since the Mahindra XUV500 also is touted to receive a 6 speed automatic gearbox very soon. Considering the competition intensifying, Tata Motors wouldn’t want to be left behind for the lack of an automatic gearbox option.

Tata Aria Automatic Concept - Technical Specification

Therefore, both the Aria and the Safari Storme might get this 6 speed automatic gearbox in due course of time.That said, we’re wondering where the automatic version of the Aria will be priced and positioned at considering that Tata Motors has had to slash prices of the Aria by many lakh rupees for the crossover’s sales to pick up in the Indian market. Perhaps, Tata Motors might target the export market with the automatic variant of the Aria given that we’ve spotted Aria LHD versions on test.

Source: ICB

Scoop: Tata Aria Left Hand Driver sans AT

Tata Motors’ flagship product, the Tata Aria Crossover is headed for markets abroad and here’s definitive proof as our roving eye in the sky, EarthFusion swooped down on an on-test Tata Aria LHD. The left hand drive version of the Aria however did not feature an automatic gearbox. So the same five speed manual gearbox might be what the export version of the Aria could feature although we do know for a fact that Tata is working on an automatic transmission for the Aria.

The Aria LHD’s interiors as well as the exteriors did not show any visible changes from the current Aria. Also, we expect the same 140 Bhp-320 Nm 2.2 Liter DICOR turbodiesel engine equipped with a dual mass flywheel to do duty in the Aria. The Tata Aria has been a sales dud in the domestic market and could do well if Tata repositions the Crossover with a price drop. Perhaps, the move to sell the Aria in developed markets will bring in the desired volumes for Tata Motors.

Talking about the export markets, both the Tata Safari SUV and the Tata Xenon pick up are decent sellers for Tata in export markets around the world and the Aria could follow in these vehicles’ tyre marks. The Tata Aria is now available with a discount of close to INR 2 Lakhs, which makes it a superb proposition for folks wanting a roomy and capable crossover which is extremely comfortable too.

This discounted price of the Aria, currently being called a December offer might extend into the next few months as the Aria is simply not selling at the original price it was positioned at. Al said, the Aria does have a lot of positives going for it like the  interiors, which is the best ever on a Tata car. The Aria feels better put together than other Tata cars and also comes with a range of features that are offered only in cars twice its price.

Source: ICB

Tata Aria Crossover selling at a special “December” discount of upto INR 2 Lakhs!

Tata Aria MPV Crossover

Sheer value for money; That is precisely what the Tata Aria Crossover is, especially with the “December” discount offer doled out by Tata dealers. Tata Motors dealers are now offering the Aria with a massive discount of up to INR 2 Lakhs. This discounted price includes a flat cash discount of INR 1.6 Lakhs along with an exchange bonus of INR 40 thousand. The base variant of the Aria 4X2 is now available for an ex-showroom price of INR 9.99 Lakhs. Tata Motors is calling this offer as the Tata Aria anniversary sale.

However, we feel that this “December” discount offered by Tata Motors is actually the price at which the 2 wheel drive Aria should have been priced in the first place. The Aria has stumbled to its lowest ever monthly sales last month, clocking just 140 units. So, this represents a good time for Tata Motors to reposition the Aria at a more attractive price to ensure that the Crossover begins selling to its true potential.

The Aria is Tata Motors’ flagship products and hence features a better fit and finish than any Tata car. Despite this, the Aria has not fired the imagination of Indian luxury crossover buyers mainly due to the high price at which it is positioned. The Aria originally debuted with a permanent all wheel drive system and a five speed manual transmission. The Aria featured the 140 Bhp-320 Nm 2.2 Liter DICOR engine from the Tata Safari.

A dual mass flywheel was added to this engine for better refinement when it made it into the Aria’s engine bay. Earlier this year, Tata Motors introduced a two wheel drive version of the Aria, and priced it much lower than the all wheel drive variant. Sales, however have slipped after showing initial promise on the back of the 2 wheel drive version’s launch. Tata Motors is also testing an automatic gearbox option for the Aria, which could be launched in the coming months.

Source: ICB 

Tata Aria Automatic to be launched by end of 2012

Tata Aria

Tata Motors has set the stage for the launch of the automatic transmission (AT) variant of Aria in India and is expected to roll out the crossover by the end of 2012. The price of the automatic variant is likely to be around Rs. 1 lac more than the manual transmission variant. However, whether the giant home-grown carmaker will offer the automatic transmission in both 4×2 and 4×4 version is not definite.

It must be noted that the Aria automatic has been seen during its testing in Pune recently, which assures its launch in India. The upcoming version of Aria is expected to give considerable competition to the likes of automatic versions of Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Captiva.

As far as the looks of the AT variant is concerned, the only difference will be the inclusion of an ‘auto’ badge on the exterior. As a matter of fact, Aria stands out from other Tata cars in terms of interiors, fit and finish and a dashboard that is soft touch. The seats set an example in the terms of comfort.

During long drives, passengers seating on the front and in the middle row can relax as they have adequate headroom, legroom and shoulder room. Speaking of the rear, the third row of seats lacks user space and is best suited for kids only. The automatic variant will enhance the overall driving especially in short distance urban commuting.

Tata is likely to use a six-speed automatic transmission for the Aria. The Aria AT will be powered by the same 2.2-litre DICOR engine that makes 138 bhp of power and 320 Nm of torque. We expect the Aria AT to accelerate from 0-100 kmph in about 16 seconds. One can expect a mileage of roughly 12.5 kmpl for the Aria AT.

The Aria AT is expected to include all the features found in the manual variant depending on the trim levels. The safety features offered on the Tata Aria AT top-end variant are likely to include Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), ABS, EBD and traction control, six airbags, cruise control, side intrusion beams and a collapsible steering column.



There will be cruise control switches, Bluetooth and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel. In addition, there will be features like satellite-based navigation system, leather upholstery, darkness sensing head lamps, rain sensing wipers, glove box chiller, 6 CD audio system and reverse camera expected in the AT variant.

The Aria AT will likely be priced Rs. 1 lac more than the manual variant. Hence the Aria AT top-end Prestige 4×2 variant will be available at a price of Rs. 15.26 lacs while the 4×4 variant will be priced at Rs. 16.84 lacs.

Thus, the variety that Tata has offered in Aria seems to be a hit in the Indian market where buyers are having a great penchant for high-end vehicles.

Source: Car Trade India