Scoop: Tata Safari Merlin Spied Inside Out by IAB

Tata Safari Merlin

After the Aria 4X2 and the Vista upgrade, the next big launch from Tata Motors is going to be the Safari Merlin. Ever since the Safari was launched in 1998, it has achieved a cult SUV status like the Scorpio from Mahindra.

The Tata Safari was always an aspirational product from Tata Motors. You didn’t buy the Safari because it fitted your budget, but because you wanted one badly.

It was also a popular car for the who’s who of the country such as the politicians and film stars. But over the years, the Safari aged and the sales started dwindling. So Tata Motors has decided to breathe new life in the Safari with the Merlin.

If you have seen the test mule you are not sure whether the Merlin is a whole new Safari built from grounds up or is just a major facelift of the current Safari.
However, the test mules of the Merlin are being tested for months now. No manufacturer would test a facelift so vigorously. Tata Motors always wanted to use the Aria’s X2 platform for the new Safari so there is a high chance that this is a whole new Safari rather than just a facelift.

Tata Safari Merlin

Exteriors:

Let’s start with the exteriors first. The new Safari doesn’t seem to be any bigger, wider or longer than the earlier Safari. The front reveals a rather conventional boxy design than a curvy one. A close photo of the headlamps reveals it will have a single projector lamp and not a dual one.

The headlamp design itself has been completely changed. The old Safari had rectangular headlamps. The new one will feature a swept back design. There is no smiling grille which is a signature element on Tata products. Plus, there are also turn indicators on the OVRMs which is a safety feature more than anything else.

Tata Safari Merlin

Although this test mule is covered in heavy camouflage, the rear reveals something every interesting. Notice the design of the tail lamps, the alloy wheels and the trapezoid exhaust pipes. Don’t they look very familiar to this undisguised image that was leaked back in July? Read Full story: Tata Merlin (New Tata Safari) may be launched around September End

Tata Safari Merlin

This means that the image which was leaked in July (above) was of the actual Merlin before the psychedelic paint scheme. The back also reveals a tiny spoiler and a wiper to get a clear view while reversing. Tata should continue offering the rear view camera and sensors.

Interiors:

Now we come to the juicy part – the interiors. Yes, this image clearly demonstrates what the new Safari interiors has in store for us. As you can see, the Safari interiors are NOT inspired by the Aria and are more or less the same like the old Safari. A few things that we have noticed are:

Tata Safari Merlin Interiors

• The steering wheel will be leather wrapped.
• The new Safari will have Airbags like the old one. Notice the new gear lever and console.
• The stereo in this test mule looks like an aftermarket pioneer unit.
• There is no low ratio gearbox.
• There is a storage pocket above the central AC vents.
• It will not have a dead pedal
• It may not have steering mounted controls
• The rear seats have been redesigned

Tata Safari Merlin Interiors

However, it still remains a mystery whether the Safari Merlin will be positioned above, below or at par with the Aria 4×2. There is a rumor that the Safari Merlin will be launched on the very next day the wraps are taken off the Mahindra XUV500. Read Full story: Tata Safari Merlin launch on Sep 27th 2011?

Does this mean that the Safari has its eyes set on Mahindra’s global SUV? Or will Tata Motors try to undercut the Mahindra XUV500?

 

Source: IndianAutosBlog

Tata Motors launches new Indigo e-CS with mileage of 25Kmpl

New Indigo e-CS

The Tata Indigo eCS Compact Sedan, which has been the pioneer of compact sedans in India, has gotten yet another upgrade from Tata Motors Limited. This time around, Tata motors have made the already fuel efficient sedan, even more fuel efficient with a raft of changes to boost the fuel economy number further. Now, the Tata Indigo eCS Diesel is touted to deliver a stunning 25 KMPL, thus making it the most efficient sedan in India.

It sports the all new CR4 Common Rail Diesel engine that has a displacement of 1396 cc delivering 70 PS @ 4000 RPM. With a higher torque of 140 NM at a lower 1800-3000 RPM, improvements in gear ratios, clutch-to-start and reduction in the weight of the car by around 10 kg, the Tata Indigo e-CS VX ensures better pickup. The Tata Indigo e-CS VX is also available with the MPFi petrol engine. Both these engines are compliant with BS4 emission norms.

How has Tata managed to squeeze an astounding 25 KMPL from the Tata Indigo eCS Diesel?

Tata Motors attributes the higher fuel efficiency of the 1.4 Liter TDI common rail turbodiesel to five main factors. 

1. The 1.4 liter turbodiesel engine’s ECU is said to have been optimized for maximum fuel economy. The company stated that the new car has features like SMART EMS (Engine Management System) CHIP that involves perfectly calibrating engine components every micro second to optimise functionality -- right from valve timing to compression ratios, to pressure volume ratios, to air fuel mixture, flawlessly synchronising every engine function to deliver 25 kmpl mileage.
2. The company also claims an innovatively designed engine head, block and piston assembly that ensures effective intake and circulation of charge (mixture of air and fuel), thereby minimising pumping friction losses. The result is maximum combustion of charge, increased efficiency and power.
3. The Indigo e-CS aerodynamics are said to have been improved to reduce drag. Tata says that the wheel arches have been redesigned and the body shell has been lightened to make the Indigo eCS a little more aerodynamic.
4. The gear ratios of the Indigo eCS has been altered for better driveability and economy. 
5. The Indigo eCS now gets low resistance tyres to reduce rolling resistance to a bare minimum, thus contributing to a higher fuel economy. So, all these changes have helped the fuel economy number of the Indigo eCS Compact Sedan go up by 2 KMPL, from 23 to 25 KMPL.

Other class defining features in the Tata Indigo e-CX VX are stylish R14 alloy wheels, satin finish front grill, headlamps and ORVM with blinkers. They, coupled with body coloured bumpers and chrome inserts on the rub rails, endow it with head turning looks. The interiors have been enriched with dual-tone beige seating and dashboard, premium wood-finish centre console, new instrument cluster with chrome rings and rear centre armrest for enhanced comfort. The plushness is enhanced with keyless entry, ABS, Bluetooth connectivity and electrical controls for ORVMs, besides carrying forward the comfortable AC, power steering and power windows. The car comes with a warranty of 18 months and unlimited kms, for private usage.

Diesel cars have been the flavor of the season and hence this high economy number is a great selling point for Tata. On whether these changes will actually translate into an actual increase in sales is something that we’ll find out in the coming months’ sales numbers. The Tata Indigo eCS Sedan’s VX diesel version is available at an ex-showroom Delhi price of INR 5.8 Lakhs while the top end petrol version comes in at INR 4.97 Lakhs.

The real story for Tata Nano's dismal sales in AUG 2011!

 

We have found out the actual reason behind why only 1,202 Nanos reached Tata dealer stockyards in the month of August.

Tata suspended production for a fortnight at it’s Sanand plant in Gujarat, on account of annual plant maintenance and realignment of Tata Nano inventory at the dealerships. This stoppage in production has led to only 1,202 units of the Tata Nano being shipped to Tata dealers across India. Hence, the lower monthly sales figure for the Tata Nano.

On the renewed marketing focus for the Nano, Tata Motors Limited also had this to say,

The company is witnessing very encouraging response to consumer-oriented marketing efforts, resulting in increasing inquiries and footfalls at the company’s showrooms.

From Tata Motors’ statement regarding the Tata Nano’s dismal numbers in August, 2011, it is evident that the Nano’s lower numbers have to do with a cut in production at Sanand than with massive fall in buyers for the revolutionary small car. However, it remains to be seen whether the marketing initiative by Tata Motors for the Nano brings in some good results as the Nano’s sales have been on a decline for some time now.

Also worth considering is the fact whether Tata Motors would hasten the arrival of the upgraded and diesel engined versions of the Tata Nano at this juncture to boost sales as the demand for diesel cars continue to rise in the Indian market. We, for out part will track September Nano numbers closely to see whether the demand for the Nano picks up in the coming days. Watch this space! 

Source: http://indiancarsbikes.in 

Tata Sumo Grande to get a makeover in November

Since 1997, The Tata Sumo was the undisputed leader in the Indian MUV segment until a certain Toyota Qualis came along. Ever since, Tata Motors’ multiple attempts to fight back and regain lost ground with Sumo variants like the Victa and the Victa DI has only become an uphill task with a multitude of capable MUVs like the Mahindra Bolero and Chevrolet Tavera nibbling away at market share.

Tata Sumo Grande MPV

In the meanwhile, Toyota withdrew the QualisMUV at the peak of its demand, much to the surprise of most, and replaced the ultra successful Qualis with the Innova MUV, which soon became a best seller too.  Mahindta responded in a while with the Xylo MPV, which also is a brisk seller. Tata however was quite late to come up with an Innova challenger and when it did, the Sumo Grande was born.

But the sales for the Grande however have bee less than encouraging with the MPV remaining a distant third, behind the Innova and the Xylo. In yet another attempt by Tata to win back some market share and keep the Sumo Grande relevant in the MPV market, a facelift is being planned for the month of November, according to our sources. The Sumo Grande in itself is a very capable MPV that has plenty of potential.

For the uninitiated, the Tata Sumo Grande come with a 2.2 Liter DICOR diesel engine producing 120 Bhp. This engine mated to a 5 speed transmission endows the Sumo Grande with sprightly performance. The Sumo Grande also handles much better than the boat like Mahindra Xylo which pitches and rolls like a drunken elephant making for a very hairy high speed driving experience.

 The price of the Sumo Grande too is lower than both the Xylo and the Innova. So, the Sumo Grande does have some inherent strengths that Tata could really use to give the Sumo Grande a proper makeover by ironing out the rougher edges like the flimsy plastics, the notchy gearbox and the bumpy ride due to the leaf springs suspension layout at the rear.

Tata Safari Merlin launch on Sep 27th 2011?

We have heard from some sources that the New Tata Safari (Tata Merlin) will be launched on 27th Sep 2011. Earlier we heard that Tata Safari Merlin will be launched around end of September. (Read: Tata Merlin (New Tata Safari) may be launched around September End.)

Important Points:

1. We also came to know that the Merlin will be priced starting from 10.5L Ex-Showroom. 
2. There will be two variants of Tata Merlin which will replace Tata Safari GX and Tata Safari VX. 
3. The top end Merlin will overlap with Arix 4x2 Pleasure. 
4. All versions of Tata Merlin will have read disc-brakes.
5. Tata Merlin will co-exist with Tata Safari for at least an year. 
6. Tata Safari GX and Tata Safari VX will be discontinued with the launch of Tata Merlin.

Hope the rumor about Tata Merlin launch by September end comes out true. What do you guys says?

Tata Motors resumes production of Tata Nano at Sanand

Earlier today, Tata Motors released a press report stating that the production at their unit in Sanand near Ahmedabad has resumed. About a fortnight back, Tata Motors had shut down the production at the Sanand unit completely.

Though Tata Motors is now saying that the Sanand unit was shutdown in order to carry out some urgent maintenance activity. According to Tata Motors spokesperson, "Production at Sanand plant has resumed after a temporary suspension for about a fortnight."

Tata Motors is the 3^rd largest car manufacturer in India currently. So by shutting down their entire manufacturing unit for 2 weeks they in a way slowed down their growth rate in the country. According to the spokesman, the reason behind shutting down the unit was done due to , "This (suspension of production) was done for maintenance and to rationalise and align inventory."

But we do not think that Tata Motors would have suffered huge losses due to the shutdown as sales of Tata Nano are already on a decline. Tata Nano sales as the month of July, declined by 64%, compared to sales made in July 2010.

Tata Aria - New Commercial and Making of it

Watch the new commercial of Tata Aria



Now watch the making of the above new commercial



Watch out the Review, Prices and Specification of the new Tata Aria 4x2:

Road Test and Review: Tata Aria 4X2

New Tata Vista - Videos

The new Tata indica vista is about to be launched on 1 Sep 2011. Check the video of the new Tata Indica Vista below:

Tata Vista Facelift - Front

Tata Vista Facelift -Rear

Tata Vista Facelift - Interiors

Check the review of new Tata Vista at the following links:

1. 2012 Tata Indica Vista Test Drive Review : MotorBeam
2. Tata Vista Refresh Review : Carwale

Check the Price and Specification of the new Tata Vista

New TataVista, creates a sedan class segment among hatchbacks : Official announcement

Tata Merlin (New Tata Safari) may be launched around September End

 

With the Force One SUV already launched and the Mahindra W201 World SUV set for a launch around the end of September, Tata Motors Limited is all set to usher its own challenger in the Indian premium SUV space with the Tata Safari Merlin SUV. According to reliable sources, this SUV is all set to be launched at the end of September and from the sheer timing of the launch, Tata seems to ensuring that the Mahindra W201 World SUV gets some stiff competition.  

As has been the trend with Tata cars recently, The Tata Safari Merlin SUV might be christened as Tata Merlin to ensure some differentiation for the new SUV model from the Tata Safari brand. This practice was followed for the Tata Manza and then for the recently launched facelift of the Tata Vista. Similarly, the Tata Safari Merlin, which essentially is an upgrade to the Tata Safari SUV, might be called the Merlin. Coming to what is new on the Tata Safari Merlin, first of all you get completely worked on looks.

The Merlin SUV will feature a lot of cues from Land Rovers including the flatter front end with flared headlamps. The rear end too is a marked departure from the Safari along with the disappearance of the spare wheel, which perhaps finds it way into the boot. The engine though will continue to remain the tried and tested 2.2 Liter DICOR turbodiesel unit producing 140 Bhp and 320 Nm. On the inside, the interiors are said to be a significant step up from the Tata Safari to make for a more premium look and feel. A few of the Aria’s interior bits might just make an appearance in the Merlin SUV.

The Merlin will be loaded with all the other bells and whistles along with ABS, EBD and Airbags being the de-facto safety bits on the SUV. The pricing of the Merlin will just begin where the Tata Safari SUV’s range ends and being typically Tata, expect it to be very competitive at just a shade under or over INR 10 Lakhs. The Merlin SUV is expected to be available both in 2 wheel drive and four wheel drive options although an automatic gearbox is still not a part of the equation.

Source: Tata Safari Merlin SUV to be launched around end September!

Nano gets a big lift within Tata Group firms

Tata Motors, India’s biggest automobile company, is launching limited-period promotional offers for its small car Nano, including sizeable discounts on the car to the employees of various companies under the Tata Group.

Higher price tag and soaring fuel costs have swayed buyers away from the ultra compact car over the months.
The automaker recently concluded an offer to the employees of Tata Consultancy Services, India’s top software exporter, allowing them to buy the small car for a discount of Rs 25,000 on the top-end variant.

Tata Motors also said the response from the 10-day offer from end-July to early August had been overwhelming from TCS.

While a similar promotional offer was launched by the company for its own employees late last year, more such offers are expected to pour into other group companies.

According to sources, Tata Motors will extend a similar offer to the employees of Tata Steel in the coming days followed by other group companies. Along with heavy cash discounts, the company has also offered cheaper finance schemes.

Other features of the Nano sold to TCS employees included a signature of Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata, near the instrument console on interiors of the car. The Nano sold to TCS employees was termed as a ‘TCS edition’ car, sources added.

“From time to time, on all our products, we work with sister companies in the group to create exciting offers for colleagues and their families, just like we do for our own colleagues,” a Tata Motors spokesperson said.

“As for the Tata Nano specifically, as for any prospective customer, it is equally an aspirational car for colleagues across the group. In the Tata Group, companies offer colleagues in other companies special offers on their products. As for the special offer on Tata Nano for TCS colleagues, the response incidentally has been overwhelming,” he added.

Tata Motors is aiming to tap into the potential yet sizeable consumer base for the Nano within all group companies where more than 200,000 people are employed in India.

While promotion of its own vehicles amongst the employees of its mother group is not new for Tata Motors, it can potentially bring in added sales for the Nano whose demand has started to dwindle once again.

The Nano’s country-wide sales so far this year has posted six per cent growth, outpacing the growth of the entire car segment which has grown by one per cent during the same period. However, monthly sales over the last two months have nearly halved to 8,712 units compared to the corresponding months a year earlier.

The entry price tag of the Nano is at Rs 1.53 lakh, while the top-end variant costs Rs 2.11 lakh (both prices ex-showroom, Mumbai).

The company is making attempts to revive sales of the small car including expanding dealer base in the interiors of the country. Tata Motors Finance, the financing arm of the company is providing loans at lower rates.

New TataVista, creates a sedan class segment among hatchbacks : Official announcement

Tata Motors today launched the new version of its premium hatchback, the Tata Vista. The new Tata Vista delivers a sedan-like experience, with its powerful engine options, stunning new look, state-of-the-art features and segment leading interior space which has always been its signature. The new range will be available at Tata Motors dealerships from September 1, 2011.

The new Tata Vista comes with a new front chrome grill, complemented with a new triple barreled head lamp, for excellent visibility in low-light conditions. The car has generous chrome package on the exteriors, sporty new alloy wheels and a new signature color, Summer Sparkle. A mirror polished garnishing below the rear windshield adds to the distinctiveness of the exteriors.

The interiors, with soft feel dash board and door pads, too match the experience of a sedan. The 4-spoke steering wheel now sports audio controls, which controls a fully integrated 2-DIN music system. It offers connectivity via USB, Auxiliary input and Bluetooth using the Blue 5 technology that helps pair upto 5 mobile phones. Outer rear view mirrors can be adjusted electrically using the joystick on the drivers side door pad and electrically operated HVAC controls add style and convenience.

Besides, it allows adjustable driving positions with tilt-adjustable steering wheels and height adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support. In the rear, the 60:40 flip and fold rear seat makes room for luggage.

The car will be powered by the internationally acclaimed 1.3 litre common rail direct injection Quadrajet diesel engine and 1.4 litre MPFi Safire petrol engine with variable valve timing technology. The diesel engine delivers 75PS of max power at 4000 RPM, while the petrol engine delivers max power of 90PS at 6000RPM. The new Tata Vista delivers a mileage of 22.3 kmpl for diesel and 16.7 kmpl for petrol.

The other major addition is the Clutch-to-Start feature which ensures that one cannot crank the engine unless the clutch is fully pressed, hence there is no risk of re-crank if engine is on.

Other driveability pleasures include:

• Lower pedal clutch effort and smoother clutch operation.
• Improvement in braking efficiency by 15% owing to the bigger brake booster.
• Lighter and more responsive steering
• Smoother gear shift due to improved shift mechanism.

Four top of the line safety & security features like ABS with EBD, dual airbags, crumple zones and side intrusion beams complete safety of the passengers. Features like engine immobilizer and remote keyless entry complete its sedan like experience.

The Tata Vista will come in 4 trim levels- LS/ GLS (base version), LX/ GLX, VX/ GVX and ZX/ GZX (top-end version) and will be offered in 6 colors, Summer Sparkle, Porcelain White, Arctic Silver, Spice Red, Brilliant Blue and Cavern Grey.

The new Tata Vista, despite its premium features, has been competitively priced, starting from Rs. 3.88 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Safire petrol range and from Rs. 4.79 lakhs for the Quadrajet diesel range (ex-showroom, Delhi).

For more information, please visit www.tatavista.com
 
About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of Rs. 1,23,133 crores ($ 27 billion) in 2010-11. Through subsidiaries and associate companies, Tata Motors has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand and Spain. Among them is Jaguar Land Rover, the business comprising the two iconic British brands. It also distributes Fiat cars in India, and has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 5.9 million Tata vehicles plying in India, Tata Motors is the country's market leader in commercial vehicles and among the top three in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fourth largest truck manufacturer and the third largest bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America.

Source: New TataVista, creates a sedan class segment among hatchbacks

Discounts, Easier Finance on offer for Tata Nano

Mumbai: Tata Motors Ltd is offering heavy discounts and attractive finance schemes to revive sales of the Nano, the world’s cheapest car.

The company is offering a cash discount of up to Rs. 20,000 and has also reduced the down payment on financed cars to Rs. 15,000 from Rs. 35,000 for the base model.

This is nearly equivalent to what one pays when buying a motorcycle, said a Delhi-based dealer, who did not want to be identified.

The company is also offering high tenure financing of up to 60 months through special arrangements with major financiers.

The ex-showroom price for the base model of the car after the discount is Rs. 1,25,880. The discounted price brings it nearly at par with its launch price of July 2009, Rs. 1,23,360.

“As families, in state after state, get ready for the festive season, despite high fuel prices and interest rates, this is a limited-period offer.” Debasis Ray, a spokesperson for Tata Motors, said in an email.

Sales of the Nano dropped two-thirds to 3,260 units in July from the same month a year ago because of high fuel prices, repeated hikes in interest rates, and new, attractively priced models from rivals.

The contraction in July sales numbers for the Nano has worried the top management of Tata Motors. In an 8 August meeting in Bombay House, the company’s headquarters in Mumbai, the top brass—including Ravi Kant, the company’s non-executive vice-chairman; Carl-Peter Forster, the Tata Motors group chief executive, and Prakash M. Telang, managing director of India operations—discussed the pricing of the car, according to one of the officials who attended the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Dealers and analysts are sceptical whether these efforts will translate into sales. “The discounts and schemes have not been able to increase sales even for company’s diesel models like Indica and Indigo. I doubt it will help Nano, which is already priced competitively,” said Vineet Hetamasaria, an analyst at PINC Research.

At these discounts, for every five cars, the company “will have to sell two more or else it will have an impact on profitability”, said Mahantesh Sabarad, an analyst at Fortune Equity Brokers (India) Ltd.

Poor Nano sales may not have a big impact on the company’s overall profitability, but slow growth in sales will result in a higher break-even target for the model, according to Sujeet Arora, an analyst at brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher Pvt. Ltd. “Ideally, the monthly sales run for the car should be 20,000 per month. That’s nowhere in sight. The schemes will not push it beyond 10,000 units,” he added, attributing the higher break-even volumes to higher costs in the Nano project owing to the expenses incurred by the company while shifting machinery to Sanand in Gujarat from Singur in West Bengal.

2012 Tata Indica Vista Test Drive Review : MotorBeam

 

Tata Motors unveiled the Indica Vista for the first time at the 2008 Auto Expo. Since then, alot has changed and new competitors have emerged in the competitive hatchback segment. The Vista has received a much needed facelift to keep it fresh amongst new rivals. The company has not done drastic changes on the Indica Vista, but subtle ones, which have been done after factoring in feedback from existing customers. With the new India Vista, Tata Motors’ expects sales to rise by 20-22% and feels that the LX and VX variant will be the most popular one. With 4 engines on offer across 4 variants, we find out if the Vista is a worthy hatchback amongst global alternatives.

Exteriors 

One look at the new Indica Vista and you immediately realize the generous addition of chrome on the car. The front is very reminiscent of the Indigo Manza and has been done intentionally. The company wants people to associate the Vista with the Manza, rather then with the Indica. The new three barrel headlamps and chrome grille go along well on the new Vista. Chrome has been added to the side as well, along with the addition of new 14-inch alloy wheels. The rear gets a pearl black finish strip, along with changes in font size for the TATA and Indica Vista logo. Overall, the design of the Indica Vista remains very similar to the old model, with slight changes to keep things looking fresh. The company is offering the new Vista with two new colours – yellow (from the Indica Sport at the Auto Expo) and blue.

Interiors  

Step inside the new Indica Vista and the first thing you realize is the sahara beige interiors. The doors too have been modified to be easy to open and close. The center console has been carried over from the Manza and the steering wheel now sports audio controls. Addition of features on the new Vista has been done to offer value to buyers and thus the new Vista now sports dual airbags, ABS, Blue 5 (BlueTooth system), electrically operated outside rear view mirrors, 2-way adjustable lumbar support and the likes. The good thing though is, that some of the features of the top end ZX model are being offered on the lower variants as well. For instance, the rear wiper is now called intelligent, because it automatically switches on (if the fronts are on), when you put the car in reverse.

The Indica Vista has excellent space and thus the company has given the new car the tagline – Sedan Class. Interior room is one of the best in the segment and the driver as well as co-passengers will have no issues in stretching out in the new Vista. However, this has led to a slightly compromise in boot space, which although is 232-liters, appears to be less due to the hump on both sides from the wheel arch. However, the rear seats have split folding function. Seats are comfortable and the quality has improved significantly. The switches feel a tad heavy to operate, while the buttons on the steering wheel are molded inside the steering, rather than on it, makes getting used to. The centrally mounted instrument cluster is not something we liked, and is quite distracting to say the least. Overall, one of the foremost reason for buying the Indica Vista would be the space it offers and it does it in abundance.


Ride, Handling and Braking 

Tata Motors’ engineers have improved the handling of the new Indica Vista. Earlier there was alot of body roll, but now the Vista corners with new found confidence. Steering feel too has improved significantly but high speed stability still remains alot to be desired from. Braking is good and the ABS works well. However the weight of the car becomes very apparent during braking. The company is working on reducing the weight of its cars in the near future. The foot well is very cramped and there is no dead pedal. Ride quality of the Indica has never been an issue and the new Vista continues with this trend. The suspension absorbs most bumps and rarely do you feel the terrible condition of our cratered roads.


Performance 

Tata Motors’ offers four engines on the new Vista range. The 1.2-liter Safire 65, 1.4-liter Safire 90, 1.4-liter TDi and 1.4-liter Quadrajet. Both the petrol engines are not segment leaders, neither in performance, nor in fuel economy. The 1.4-TDi is best opted for if your on a serious budget or want to run your car as a Taxi. We drove the new Vista with the Quadrajet engine and find it to be well suited for the car. Infact the Quadrajet motor is easily the engine of choice for the Vista and excels at its duty.

The Quadrajet (don’t be fooled by the name) is nothing but a 1.3-liter Fiat Multijet engine. Producing 75 PS of power at 4000 RPM and 190 Nm of torque at 1750-3000 RPM, the Quadrajet motor has very good performance and will easily revv to 5000 RPM should you please. Driving in the city is a breeze and the engine is tuned for driveabilty. Turbo lag has been minimized but not absent. The Indica Vista will easily do 150 kmph with this engine and returns a mileage of 22.3 kmpl (ARAI figures). The clutch is light and the gearbox is relatively smooth and easy to operate. NVH levels are very good and engine noise has been suppressed to quite an extent.

Conclusion 

Tata Motors has given the Vista a mild makeover to ensure it continues to sell decent numbers every month. The Vista had some minor niggling issues which seem to have been sorted now. This makes the new Vista easier to live with. Furthermore, the new Vista now gets new features which make it an attractive option for those who look at space and value for money. The quality has been improved as well and the rough edges of the old Vista have been addressed to a large extent. With prices set to be very competitive, the new Vista indeed offers more car per car. 

Whats Cool

* Space
* Value for money
* Features across variants
* Improvement in quality

Whats Not So Cool

* Petrol engines not the most fuel efficient
* High speed stability
* Centrally mounted instrument cluster

Source: 2012 Tata Indica Vista Test Drive Review

Tata Vista Refresh Review : Carwale

Introduction

 

Tata Motors has been expanding its current offerings and at the same time even giving facelift to its existing models. The Pimpri-based automaker launched the Aria 4x2 this month to fill in the price gap between the already existing Safari and the 4x4 version of the Aria. Now, they have facelifted the Vista gets a lot of gadgets from the Manza, giving it sedan-like features.

Highlights:

-The Vista is the only hatchback in the segment to get an in-dash music system and steering mounted audio controls across the range expect the base model. Other hatchbacks get this feature only in the top-of-the-line variant.

- Tata engineers claim that the clutch pedal is now lighter by 20% than before.

- The Vista will be available in six shades of which the Summer Sparkle and Brilliant Blue are new colours.

Looks & Interiors

 

The Vista now gets a Manza-like front grille as it sports the chrome grille with the triple barrel headlamps and the front fog lamps get chrome surrounds. A lot of chrome bits have been added to the side of the car, alloys and it now even comes with smoked tail-lamps.

 

On the inside, the Vista gets the dual black and Sahara beige interior shade, electric ORVMs and steering mounted audio controls. The quality of interiors on the Vista has been improved further and now it gets the soft-feel touch dashboard. The effort to open and close the doors has reduced, as the door handle and lever have become lighter than before.

Drive

 

  The Vista will be available with the same four powertrains and they remain untouched as Tata had recently upgraded them to meet the Bharat Stage IV norms. We drove the 1.3-litre Quadrajet engine. There’s not much to say about the Fiat powerplant – we simply love the engine! The turbo lag on the Indica Vista isn’t too much and the engine cleanly pulls from even low almost –walking speeds even in the second gear. Engineers at Tata have reduced the driving effort as the clutch and the steering wheel have become lighter reducing driver fatigue. 

 

The Vista has pretty good ride quality and Tata have really managed to get the Vista to ride even better well without compromising too much on the handling front. The suspension is well composed even broken tarmac road and as the suspension absorbs most of the road shocks. 

Verdict

Tata has gone about renaming its variants and included a lot of features in the lower variants. This will be the biggest advantage that Tata can boast of, as the second base model will come loaded with features like in-dash music system, steering mounted controls and Bluetooth, which are features normally made available in top-of-the-line variants of all the hatchback sold in India. So, with improved quality and addition of more frills makes the Vista even a better value for money hatchback that one can procure.

Features, Styling, space, ride quality

Resale value

Source: Tata Vista first drive : Hasta la Vista!

Tata Indica Vista Facelift: Price, Specifications, Brouchers leaked

Tata Motors is expected to launch the new Indica tomorrow in Mumbai. But before it is revealed officially, earlier today, Team-BHP, one of the largest automobile forums in India, revealed the details about the yet to launched Tata Indica facelift via a series of images clicked from, what seems like the official brochure of the new Tata Indica.


According to the images, new Tata Indica will be available in four variants, namely, Tata Indica LS priced at Rs 5,55,836, Tata Indica LX for Rs 6,11,468, Tata Indica VX for Rs 6,31,972 and finally, Tata Indica ZX for Rs 6,99,936.

All these variants will be available in a choice of 6 colors, Brilliant Blue, Cavern Grey, Porcelain White, Spice Red, Arctic Silver and Summer Sparkle. Other features of the new Indica facelift include, alloys, Bluetooth, keyless entry, ABS, airbags, Electric ORVM, HVAC controls, steering mounted controls and much more.
New Tata Indica Vista will be powered by the same engine as seen in the outgoing variant. The forum thread also suggests that deliveries of the new Indica facelift have already started.

 

 

 

 

Click on the image to see it bigger.

Source: http://team-bhp.com