[tushky]

Originally Posted by Rtech

Don't think this is for passengers. It appears to be a delivery van with a door on the left side only.

Atleast I hope its not meant for passengers.

it is for passengers. like Mahindra minidoor. but quality is much better than mahindra. this van has hard top, better dash board and also roomy legspace.

[sajo]

Originally Posted by tushky

it is for passengers. like Mahindra minidoor. but quality is much better than mahindra. this van has hard top, better dash board and also roomy legspace.

Yes, even I think this is in competition to the Force Minidor and not Omni. The Minidor used to have a plastic roof if it was a HT and a canvas one with which it came from the factory.
This is just a rickshaw with 4 wheels that can double up as great rural transport.
BTW, has anyone seen the Premier Sigma based pick-up? Looks just like the Ace but is more powerful and much closer to a van than the Tata product.

[Joz]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

So what was the Renault Trafik for? "R&D" or for pulling a fast one on competitors?

They are not pulling a fast one. That one will also be launched.

Things are on a roll at the 'Indian' vehicle manufacturers end...putting a whole lot of effort into their new vehicles. Export focus will no more be an afterthought. Its a priority right from word go. So expect good trim and equipment levels for quite a few new launches.

[tushky]

hey check the new spy photo. in this you can see taillamps. reminds me taillamps of Indicab.

[1100D]

Have anyone seen a door-less version of this vehicle (cos such a version is planned). This anyway could upturn the countless number of VIKRAM's that ply in Uttar pradesh and Uttaranchal.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by vid6639

This could mean the end of the omni.

edit: actually it may not if they still have the 16bhp 700cc engine.

From what read in another post on team-bhp, the passenger Ace will have the 1400 CC Indica engine, suitably detuned. 35-40 BHP probably?

[pradkumar]

The rear handle is not even on the same level as the front handle. Don't designers care for simple aesthetics?

Pradeep

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Large glass area to the rear by the looks of it - the handles for the rear door are placed really low.

Wonder what effect it will have on the AirCon.

[rkg]

As per today economic times Ace passenger model will debut in a month's time in market

Tatas’ Ace in passenger class to counter OmniAdd to Clippings
NANDINI SEN GUPTA & PARVATHY ULLATIL

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2007 05:05:03 AM]
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Building on its success in the light truck segment, Tata Motors is likely to launch a passenger vehicle version of its one-tonner Ace next month. The new multi purpose vehicle (MPV) will be positioned against Maruti’s Omni and will be priced aggressively to open up competition in that segment. The Omni is priced between Rs 2.3 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

A source close to Tata Motors’ confirmed the development. “Tata Motors is basically following the same strategy it used with the Indica — launching multiple variants based on the same platform. The Ace platform is versatile and it is exploring innovations on that platform,” he said.

The source also indicated that the launch was strategically slated for a year before Tata Motors’ much-hyped people’s car hits the roads. The new MPV will target the same markets, semi-urban and rural, where the Rs 1-lakh car is expected to make a big splash. The Ace MPV will be used to test the market potential and Tata Motors’ distribution network in these specific regions. When contacted a spokesperson said: “At any given point in time Tata Motors is working on various innovations. We cannot comment any further.”

Tata Motors is not the only auto-maker to have spotted potential in the MPV segment. Bajaj Auto is also working on a similar concept which will mark its debut in the four-wheeler passenger vehicle segment. In its quest for faster-than-industry-average growth, BAL has identified MPVs as a potential growth segment. Speaking to ET on an earlier occasion, Bajaj Auto’s managing director Rajiv Bajaj had said, “The middle ground (between two and four-wheelers) can spawn a range of ‘lite’ vehicles — a diet version if you will — and that’s something we will look at. We are intending to get into a family of ‘lite’ four-wheelers, both for people and goods. We will get into that business first with a goods carrier.”

The other possible player in this segment could be Hero, which has also indicated its intention to foray into four-wheelers. Hero Honda MD Pawan Kant Munjal said in an earlier interview that the group would get into four-wheelers as a natural extension of its bike business but he declined to specify whether this was passenger cars, light commercial vehicles or passenger vehicles.

Maruti’s Omni, currently the only player in the microbus/MPV segment, has sold around 65,350 units in the April-January period, a growth of 27%. This pips the 21-22% growth in overall passenger car segment. Popular as a people mover in smaller towns and a cargo vehicle in cities, the Omni also has a special application variant used as an ambulance.

The penetration of the hub and spoke model and greater mobility of the labour force has led to increased demand for basic no-frills vehicles in smaller markets. Ace, one of the bestsellers from the Tata Motors’ stable in recent times, sells around 6,500 units a month. The company has commissioned a new 1,00,000 unit plant in Uttaranchal to manufacture the Ace.
The success of the Ace opened up a whole new segment in the commercial vehicle market and other players like Bajaj Auto, Ashok Leyland and M&M are also queuing up to get a chunk of the ultra-light truck market.

[esteem_lover]

But the pics dont look real. i think the real pics were already posted before. One more perilous ride on the roads. This will be launched before the 1 lakh car. BTW, has anyone heard how the ACE sounds ?? wouldn't want to be close to that.

[Vid6639]

These must be the models before they start they fabrication.

[sajo]

Saw one today. Isnt all that bad. Though all I could see was only one bench seat folded flat in the rear.



@esteem_lover : The ACE goes a soft chug-chug-chug compared to the hydraulic drill sound of the competition. So you can say its the most refined one in its class of two!

[BunnyPunia]

[agspins]

Today Tata launched Ace based 6 seater "Magic" starting from 2.60 lacs
and also launched "Winger-Maxi-Van" starting at 4.70 lacs.Winger seems to based on renault van.

[amtak]

The TATA site does not state anything...

[ranc]

Yes it is true here are the excepts from moneycontrol.com

Magic

With an ergonomically designed all-steel cabin, Magic has a flexible seating capacity of 4 to 7 passengers, in pleasant and spacious interiors including comfortable seats and ample legroom for an enjoyable ride for the passengers.

Powered by a 16 HP 700 cc water-cooled diesel engine, it will provide the Magic owner with high fuel efficiency and very low maintenance. The 12" tyres provide higher ground clearance, and the rigid front axle can weather tough road conditions. The turning radius of 4.3 metres is agile enough to navigate narrow bylanes and dense traffic. For the driver's benefit, the Magic has a clearly visible instrument cluster, utility tray and a digital clock in the dashboard and also a radio fitment provision.

The Magic meets BS-III emission norms and has been developed for use in any market -- be it urban, semi-urban or rural. It is backed by a 36000 km/12-month warranty. The Magic Range is at Rs 2.60 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Pune).