The next generation Tata Manza could take design cues from Manza diesel hybrid concept!

At the 2012 Indian Auto Expo, Tata Motors showcased a diesel hybrid concept of the Manza sedan. So striking were the concept sedan’s looks that a few of our readers even remarked that Tata should begin putting the design team behind Tata’s concept cars to work for existing and future Tata production cars. That said, our sources working closely with Tata Motors new car development plans tell us that the next generation Manza could indeed borrow styling cues from the Manza diesel hybrid concept sedan showcased at the exposition.

Tata Manza Diesel Hybrid Concept - Front Look

The biggest and most prominent change on the Tata Manza Hybrid Concept was the front end. The rest of the car though retains the body shell of the Manza with the overall profile being very similar to the current production versions. The Manza Hybrid’s front end, a place where most of the action is, exhibits a sharp snout. The grille gets a sporty honeycomb effect while the headlamps are sharply raked units unlike the curved headlamps on the production model. Also, the traditional Tata smiling face is retained on the concept, making it look unmistakably Tata from the front.

Tata Manza Diesel Hybrid Concept at the 2012 Auto Expo

The style job continues to the rear as well where the Manza Hybrid concept gets smoked out tail lamps which feature a band new design along with new bumper styling. Viewed from the sides though, the Manza still retains some heavy and bulbous lines creeping in, as is the case with the existing version of the Manza. Despite this, if Tata Motors actually incorporate these styling elements in the next generation version of the Manza, the car could become one heck of a looker. All in the all, the Manza Hybrid concept looked quite ravishing with most show goers appreciating the design language that the car exhibited.

Source: ICB

Tata Nano to hit Bangladesh market next month

The Nano minicar of Indian Tata Motors will hit the Bangladesh market next month as its Bangladeshi distributor has confirmed an import deal to sell the vehicle here, the car seller said Saturday.



Chairman of Nitol Group, distributor of the Tata cars in Bangladesh, Abdul Matlub Ahmed said the first fleet of 200 Tata Nano cars will arrive in Bangladesh in February this year.

"We have confirmed the deal with Tata Motors Ltd. We will import 2,000 Nano cars per year for the Bangladesh market," said Mr Ahmed.

Managing Director of Tata Motors Ltd of India PM Telang said his company plans to export its less fuel-consuming Nano minicars to Bangladesh.

It will also export the car to Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar, said the Wall Street Journal Saturday quoting Mr Telang.

Abdul Matlub Ahmed said the retail price of a Nano car in Bangladesh market will be Tk 650,000.

The world's cheapest car Tata Nano was launched in March 2009 to sell it at 136,000 rupees in the Indian market.

Tata Motors later started to export the low-cost minicar to Nepal and Sri Lanka which is popular there, the Indian car-maker said.

Mr Matlub Ahmed said his target is the middle and lower middle-income groups of people of Bangladesh who will afford to buy the low-cost car.

He said: "I will market the maximum number of Nano outside Dhaka where a car is still a far cry for a family. The people of small towns will be my first target for selling the cars."

The Nitol Group chairman said he has a plan to boost the annual sales of Nano in the Bangladesh market from 2,000 units to 12,000 units within the next four years.

"I have a plan to convince the Tata Motors India to set a Nano manufacturing plant here in Bangladesh to meet the demand," he added.



He said: "The price will come down once we start assembling the car here. Tata has a plan to manufacture the car in Bangladesh if it becomes popular here."

"We anticipate that the Nano will be very popular because it is extremely fuel efficient. You can drive more than 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) with a litre of gasoline," said the chief of the Nitol Motors.

Mr Telang said his company is likely to take a decision in the next three or four months on setting up the second commercial vehicle assembly plant overseas.

Outside India, the Indian car-maker has an assembling unit in South Africa.

Source: The Financial Express BD

Tata Nano Diesel ain’t coming anytime soon, instead how about the Nano CNG

Tata Nano CNG

Bad news first. The Tata Nano Diesel might not see a commercial launch anytime too soon with word emerging from Tata Motors that the diesel variant is at least a year away from a launch. While this would come as a bummer to many a prospective owner of the  Tata Nano Diesel, there’s still some cheer left. Tata Motors has put together a CNG variant of the Nano, and with CNG being much cheaper than petrol could still be a very sensible option for folks who want a very frugal and eco-friendly form of four wheeled personal transport.

Currently though, the Nano CNG is more of a concept that showcases Tata Motors’ growing capability of delivering cars with alternate fuel technology. Even so, the concept could become a reality as it fits right within the strengths of the Tata Nano. Coming to think of it, the Nano is primarily a city car although the cute little runabout would do just as fine on the highways. In most Indian cities, CNG is quickly becoming accessible and hence, a car with CNG will not just be non polluting but also frugal and convenient to run in most big cities, prime potential market for the Nano.

Tata Nano CNG Concept - Technical Specification

Important Key Features of Tata Nano CNG:

• The Nano CNG concept will be a Bi-fuel Car that can run on both petrol as well as CNG.
• The CNG tank has been packaged in such a way that it doesn’t intrude on the luggage space of the Nano.
• The components for the CNG kit have been sourced from world class suppliers.
• The Nano CNG will have a CNG cut off system in case of even a slight leak.
• The Nano CNG will use the highly efficient controlled sequential gas injection kit.
• The Nano CNG’s driver will be able to seamlessly switch between petrol and CNG modes.

Source: ICB

The 2012 Tata Safari Storme and the Xenon could go automatic sometime in the future with the G85 6 speed automatic gearbox!

Tata G85 6 Speed Automatic Gearbox

Tata Motors showcased a very interesting concept at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo, of that of a Tata Aria AT concept with the 6 speed automatic gearbox. This G85 6 speed automatic gearbox won’t just be restricted to the Tata Aria in the coming months but also could find various applications in other Tata SUVs. Primary among these are the Tata Safari Storme SUV and the Tata Xenon Pick Up truck, both models which have an export future.

The G85 gearbox that Tata showcased on the Aria can handle a peak torque of up to 450 Nm, a figure that none of Tata’s range of SUVs develop at the moment. Therefore, handling torque will never be an issue with this gearbox. This gearbox also comes with added features like a tiptronic mode that lets a driver shift gears manually, albeit without a clutch of course. Also, the gearbox is capable of handling three modes, comfort, economy and sport modes for sporty applications to maximize driving performance and pleasure.

The gearbox has six ratios and has options of 1 or 2 over drive gears depending upon the application. The 1st to fourth gears have a triple synchronizer while the fifth, sixth and reverse gears have a double synchronizer. This gearbox is developed by the transmission maker DANA for TATA Motors, Dana also developed drive shafts for commercial vehicles and specially for TATA world truck.

All in all, Tata Motors now has a 6 speed automatic gearbox that it can deploy on its SUV and crossover range. On whether the Indian versions of the Safari Storme, Xenon and Aria will get this 6 speed transmission is something only time will tell. For the export market though, Tata might be very keen to use this 6 speed automatic gearbox as all three SUVs, the Safari Storme, Aria and the Xenon will be/are already being exported to countries across the world.

Source: ICB

2012 AUTO EXPO - Tata Ultra unveiled!

Tata Ultra LCV Range unvieled

Tata Motors has unveiled their new range of Light Commercial Vehicles at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Tata Ultra is a more modern LCV, that has more contemporary features and looks and is essentially the new-generation Tata 407.

The Ultra LCV range will have variants between 5 and 14 tonnes that will be powered by new generation 3.0-litre engines that make 138 bhp and 5.0-litre engines that make 168 bhp. The engines are common-rail DiCOR 16 valve engines. The new ultra range is very modern looking and has a load cab body keeping in trend with contemporary CV design. The new ultra also has clear lens headlamps, new instrument cluster that indicates current mileage and full trip mileage. To make things easier for the driver, power steering as well as integrated headrests are also included. The steering is hydraulic and the steering wheel is adjustable for reach as well as rake, it is also collapsible. Cabin tilt is present too.

The Ultra range also is one of the first light commercial vehicles to come with radial tyres and disc brakes on all wheels.

Tata motors also unveiled an Ace EX with a new front fascia. This LCV comes with new headlamps, new grille and 13-inch tyres as compared to the 12-inchers on the old Ace. It comes with a 5-speed gearbox as opposed to the 4-speed unit in the old one. It gives a 1-1.5 kpl benefit as compared to the old model. It also has new seat fabric, a new insrument cluster, mobile charging point.

Tata Motors also displayed a diesel hybrid based on the Manza. It comes with a floating gear selector like in the Jaguar XF.



They also featured the LPT323 which is India's first 5-axle rigid truck. It can carry loads up to 25 tonnes which can is excellent for moving steel and construction equipment

Source: Business Standard Motoring