[GTO]

Link to the dedicated Tata Safari Storme Report

The eye-candy starts right outside the Tata / JLR stall. A classy, well-maintained XJ:


Tata's Showcase! What I especially liked was that, instead of leggy lasses, each concept Tata car had a technical expert accompanying it. Thus, you are able to get immediate answers to any technical questions you might have.

The Tata stall had super bright focus lights; great in person, but extremely difficult to take pictures in (the worst of all stalls). My apologies in advance for the quality of pictures that don't meet our usual standards:

[GTO]

Looks so much like a regular Aria that you'd just walk pass it, right? WRONG:


Say hello to the Aria's 6 speed Automatic with Tiptronic function. The first 3 ratios are tuned for urban usage, while the 5th & 6th are taller for expressway cruising. There are 3 driving modes; Sport, Economy & Cruise. The transmission also has "Hill Hold" & "Hill Descent" controls. The AT will be available with both, 4x2 and 4x4 versions. Interestingly, the Aria AT makes 154 BHP (@ 4,000 rpm) and 400 Nm of torque (@ 1,800 - 2,700 rpm). It's kerb weight is a hefty 2,230 kilos:


Comfy captain seats for middle-row passengers:


The Aria AT gets a Harman 10 speaker & amplifier combo:

[GTO]

I told Tata that they should have included the Manza Hybrid Concept in their press conference!

As I've mentioned earlier, the most interesting stalls are the home brands (Tata, Mahindra, Hero, TVS and even Maruti to an extent) due to the many variants & concepts you get to see, of everyday cars. It's at Auto Expos that one gets an opportunity to experience the sheer depth of talent, and the exciting experiments that they indulge in behind-the-scenes.

The Manza Hybrid has a 3-cylinder 1.05L 64 BHP Dicor motor (pictured separately in a post below) and a 45 KW / 60 BHP electric motor. Engines have an auto start / stop system. Kerb weight = 1,250 kilos:


LED tail-lights:


Bi-Xenon & LED headlamp arrangement:




Roof-mounted solar panel:


Funky door handles have proximity sensors:


205/45 R17 rubber. Regenerative braking & an electric parking brake too!






The Manza Hybrid gets an electric power steering, instead of a power-sapping hydraulic unit. The gentleman holding the bluetooth-connected cell phone is the Hybrid's Chief Product Engineer:


Automatic transmission. Right below is the i-Drive rotary controller for the HVAC, navigation & audio:


Crystal-clear navigation screen:


The Manza Hybrid is capable of running in "pure electric" mode. On the top left, you'll see gauges for the diesel tank & battery capacity:




7-inch touch screen with Android-like haptic feedback:


6-way electrically adjustable front seats:

[GTO]

A Tata that maxes out the speedometer at 200 kph, and then some (as told to me by a Tata Motor's driver). Meet the Vista Concept S2. Under the hood sits a 138 BHP (@ 6,000 rpm) 1.4 liter turbo-charged petrol that makes 188 Nm of torque (@ 3,500 rpm). Kerb weight : 1,152 kilos. Power to weight : 120 BHP / Ton


Firmer dampers & the rear gets a stiffer twist beam:




All-wheel disc brakes, though the rear discs (pictured here) look terribly puny. 205/40 R17 tyres:


Red roof & large rear wing look tacky:






Awesome chunky steering wheel, flat bottom et al:


I asked how much the engine revvs to. Answer = (literally):




Body-hugging Sparcos:

[GTO]

The Tata Pixel! Link to dedicated thread:








The Nano CNG with a sequential gas injection kit was on display. 35 liter CNG tank is placed under the front seats, thus the boot is left untouched. Before you think "Fire & Safety!!" Tata will tell you that the car has an automatic cut-off if the system detects any leaks. It is claimed that the Nano can do up to 150 kms on a tank of CNG (over and above the petrol tank range):

[GTO]

Tata's new 6-speed gearbox is compatible with the 2.2L & 3.0L diesels. It has a torque capacity of 450 Nm & could make a debut in future versions of the Aria, Safari Storme / Merlin & Xenon. The box has triple synchronisers for the 1st - 4th gears, and dual for 5th, 6th & reverse ratios. Two configurations; with 5th & 6th as overdrive, and another with only 6th as overdrive:




The world is moving to small capacity turbo-charged engines, Tata has already started development of the same. 3 cylinder 1.05L capacity, direct injection with 64 BHP & 140 Nm of torque on tap. 4 valves per cylinder. Emissions capability of "Euro V and beyond":

[GTO]

Tata Venture Ambulance gets the regular 1.4L 70 BHP TDI engine. Yep, it does have power steering too. Onboard capacity is 2 at the front, and 1 doctor + 1 assistant at the rear. The auto-loading patient stretcher runs 6 feet in length. There is a 12V electric connection for medical equipment & provision for an oxygen cylinder. The rear seats & stretcher are washable:








This hot-looking Xenon (save for the garish red ORVMs) wears a matt paint finish. Also has a transmission that Tata called "Automated Manual Transmission" (no further information available at this stage):


Close look at the faux carbon fiber hood finish:


Lockable bed cover:




Lenso street alloy wheels:


A little off topic, this red golf cart (and the yellow one pictured below) were crowd pullers. I saw them carrying Senior Citizens and truly respect the initiative. Appear to be sponsored by a "Fitness World" brand:

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Auto Expo 2012 Section!

[DeKay]

Thanks a lot GTO!
The hybrid Manza looks astonishing! And so does the Xenon. Let's hope they make it to production some day.

The red TATA logo on the S2 vista looks a bit overdone doesn't it? Anyways, a great concept!

[SirAlec]

So TATA is using JLR technology in their own cars now. Check the rotary gear change knob, lifted straight from Jaguar.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by GTO

Most of the free service shuttles / buses I saw were provided by Tata. Here's one zero-emissions example:

1) The Xenon looks smoking hot.
2) Nice to see the development of a 6 speed box.
3) TATA Pixel is amazing.
4) TATA Aria with A/T & tiptronic is again amazing.
5) I loved the interiors of the Manza Hybrid. Gear knob is a straight lift off from the Jag... and now LR.
6) Indica S2 is rubbish.

[safari_lover]

GTO, thanks for the fantastic pics!

When can we expect the Aria AT?

Is the engine from the S2 concept for real? I mean have they developed such a engine? Sirish from Overdrive, tweeted that this car might go into production! Do you think the same?

Anything more on the 3 Cyl Dicor? Is it expected to go into production anytime soon?

PS - any pictures from the Tata's commercial vehicle stable? I am particularly interested to know more about their Multi Axle bus, the Paradiso.

[DriveLogic]

Boy, the Manza Hybrid's all black alloys look stunning!

[greatDrive]

Nice pics indeed.
Any news on Nano Diesel?
Will it be launched this year or people have to wait till 2013?

Thanks
GD

[himavanth_m]

Tata seems to have improved leaps and bounds in terms of technology over the last year. Most of the technology can be thanked to the LR and Jaguar acquisition but the efforts put into developing them is commendable.
I hope we see all the above technologies come into production soon. I am especially looking forward to the Manza Hybrid with a 1.05 litre 3 cylinder Dicor engine as well as the 6 speed Manual gearbox and 6 speed Automatic gearbox in their Aria and Safari Storme.
I hope the Manza hybrid comes at an affordable cost. Diesel vehicle+ Hybrid seems to be a deadly combination. Lots of savings can be expected I guess from this vehicle..