Changes on the horizon

Upgraded Tata cars are more exciting now.

Tata Motors has unveiled a customer-focused strategy for passenger vehicles business, has launched 8 new upgraded vehicles across 5 brands.

When business becomes tough, one needs to take extraordinary measures. Being in a market where sales are gradually slowing down, Tata Motors, one of the top four car makers in the country, was one of the worst affected companies. Faced with a higher than expected drop in sales, the company has now unveiled a new aggressive and customer-centric initiative named ‘Horizonext’ for its passenger vehicles business (cars and SUVs). The ‘Horizonext’ plan is a four-pronged customer-focused strategy standing on four main pillars: intense product focus, focus on world-class manufacturing practices, enriched customer purchase experience and consistent quality of service.

As a part of this initiative, the company has unveiled 8 newly upgraded and enhanced products, across 5 brands. These include new enhanced versions of the Tata Indigo eCS, the Tata Sumo Gold, the Tata Nano and the Tata Indica, with the additions of new colours and graphic designs, enhanced exteriors, improved high-quality suspension to offer a better ride, great multimedia entertainment options and the introduction of the Feather-shift gearbox (F-shift gearbox).

The company has also launched the new CNG range – Tata Indica CNG, Tata Indigo CNG and Tata Nano CNG -- and the Explorer Edition of the Tata Safari Storme. Select variants will be phased in the next 90 days. 

A new range

As a part of the new product line, Tata Motors has introduced new Tata Indigo eCS (compact sedan) with significant changes in its exteriors and interiors. It has added a new powertrain that smoothens performance. A refined CR4 diesel engine cranks out a max torque of 140 Nm at 1800-3000 rpm, 70 PS of power and delivers mileage of 25 kmpl (ARAI certified). While an advanced F-Shift Gear box (TA65 gear box with cable shift mechanism)  makes driving through city traffic easy. The new Duo Float Suspension enhances load distribution along the constituent elements for a comfortable and smooth drive. In this system wheel loads travel via two distinct paths of the car body, through tuning of the spring and dampers, along these two paths independently. This results in better ride without compromising handling.  The new NVH package that reduces external noise from intruding into the cabin, leading to a refined and quiet drive, the company claimed.

The company also launched new Tata Indica that comes with posh looking dual tone interiors, new transmission and new exteriors to create a whole new experience. The new transmission with Smart-shift gear technology (New TA65 gear transmission) is mated to a refined and powerful diesel engine. This results in effortless and smooth gear shifts and a class leading fuel efficiency of 25 kmpl (for the BS4 variant), the company claimed. It is also complemented by new Dual Path Suspension (as in Indigo eCS) that ensures better ride, handling and driveability on all kinds of terrains.

Also will be available the new Tata Sumo Gold. The CR4 engine along with top-notch features is aimed at bringing more style and comfort than before. The Dual AC cooling and Bluetooth/USB connectivity it offers is a first-in-class feature, the company claimed. This powerful SUV comes with 5 metre turning radius and high performance clutch that gives you 1lac kms of tension free driving experience. The vehicle is expected to give fuel economy of 15.3 kmpl.

Tatas have made the small car Tata Nano even more exciting with the introduction of an array of new features, including remote keyless entry, twin glove boxes, and a four-speaker AmphiStream music system with Bluetooth USB and Aux-in connectivity. New additions are the fresh and stylish Nano Personalization Kits, enabling owners to customize their Nano with one of four unique identities: Jet,  Alpha,  Remix, and Peach. The car will be available in dealerships by July 2013. 

In the recently introduced Safari Storme, the company has added a new variant: the Explorer Edition that further builds on to the utility, ruggedness and off-roading characteristics. The range of accessories in the Explore Edition include BLAUPUNKT – Touchscreen Double DIN Infotainment system, stylish nudge guard, door  visors, explorer decals and adventure gears like camping kits, backpack etc. These accessories will initially be available in select Tata Motors outlets.

The eco range

Tata Motors, for some years, is actively developing a range of low carbon vehicle technologies ranging across the spectrum, from passenger cars to trucks. These vehicles are green and run on alternate fuels, including CNG, bio-fuels, electric and hybrid, for both personal and commercial transportation.

In the passenger vehicle segment, the company just unveiled its emax range of green vehicles. The emax range is powered by fuel efficient engines, which run on eco-friendly alternate fuels, with the lowest carbon footprint in their respective segments. The company unveiled 3 CNG powered vehicles – new Tata Nano emax (CNG), new Tata Indigo emax (CNG) and new Tata Indigo eCS emax (CNG).

A CNG-and-petrol bi-drive system supplements the standard petrol engine, with range-extending capabilities of compressed natural gas. CNG technology stretches the vehicles range by approximately 200 kilometres. Switching between CNG and petrol driving modes on-the-fly is effortless, thanks to a push-button fuel type selector, the company said.

Besides, the new emax – CNG range comes with best-in-class air conditioning, turning radius, passenger space and comfort, stylishly appointed interiors, with a warranty of upto 75,000 km or 4 years (whichever is earlier), on the new Tata Indigo and Tata Indica emax – CNG and upto 60,000 or 4 years (whichever is earlier), on the new Tata Nano emax – CNG.

Tatas claimed that the new Tata Nano emax – CNG is India’s most fuel efficient car. The sequential gas injection system, of the Tata Nano emax – CNG, has been thoroughly calibrated with an intelligent EMS system, for smart switching between CNG and gasoline fuel systems.

With CNG, Nano comes with a touring range of more than 150 km (in CNG), in addition to the existing touring range of 375 km (in petrol), best-in-class fuel economy, improved emissions with low CO2, resulting in low running cost, it was claimed.

The new Indigo eCS emax – CNG makes the car more fuel-efficient sedan. The vehicle’s Petrol-CNG engine, churns out upto 65 HP@5000 rpm, returning a fuel efficiency figure range of upto an additional 230 kilometres (in CNG) over 650 km (in petrol).

The new Tata Indica emax – CNG is another green and fuel efficient vehicle that delivers better torque and a good fuel efficient returning an additional 230 kilometres (in CNG) over 600 km (in petrol), the company claimed. In Indigo eCS and Indica the owners, however, will have to sacrifice most of the boot space for the CNG tanks. In case of Nano, the 5 kg CNG tank has been fitted under the driver's seat. These vehicles will be introduced in the next 90 days.

The writer is a freelance auto journalist, writing test drive reports for the last 11 years. He can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com