[san2]

latest updates from Tata

Source: Moneycontrol.com

Tata Motors which has been struggling in the domestic passenger car business, with sluggish sales and declining market share, on Wednesday launched as much as 8 new upgraded products in the market, including compressed natural gas variants of its cheapest car Nano, Indica hatcbback and Indigo sedan.

The Nano, which has been clocking sales well below what the company had expected, has been revamped with new features like remote keyless entry, twin gloveboxes, and four-speaker music system with bluetooth and USB. The new Nano, which will be available from next month, will also come in new colours and there will also be four personalisation kits, the company announced on Wednesday.

Apart from the Nano, Tata Motors has also launched upgraded versions of its compact sedan Indigo eCS, and its long running utility vehicle Sumo Gold.

The Indigo eCS now has a refined engine, new suspension, and external noise reduction, while the Sumo Gold has new features like dual AC cooling and USB/bluetooth.

Tata Motors also launched the explorer edition of its Safari Storme SUV, which itself was refreshed last year. The company claims, the explorer edition "further builds on the utility, ruggedness and off-roading characteristics," of the Safari Storme. It will also have accessories like Blaupunkt infotainment system, and adventure gears like camping kits, backpack etc.

"These products clearly indicate the significant improvement we are bringing in our product quality. While we are working towards our next-generation product pipeline, today we are bringing best-in-class vehicle experience across different passenger car categories to enhance some of our great existing brands," Ranjit Yadav, president, passenger vehicle business unit, said.

The company appointed Karl Slym as its MD in August 2012 to help revive the passenger car business. Since then Tata Motors has refreshed most of its existing passenger vehicles, including Indica Vista, Manza and Safari.

Slym has said on several occassions that the company will launch brand new products and new platforms in the long-term in the competitive passenger car market. However, a brand new product is only expected in 2015. Till then, it will have to continue with refreshes of its existing portfolio.

Apart from the upgraded products, Tata Motors also launched a customer focused strategy called Horizonext on Wednesday.

"While the Indian automobile market has become intensely competitive, our goal is to enhance our market leadership in commercial vehicles and move to a strong podium finish in the passenger vehicle market. Horizonext is the next step in line with the company's mission to be passionate in anticipating and providing the best vehicles and experiences that excite our customers globally," Slym said.

Its interesting to note that Tata Motors is focussing on the customer experience with their Horizonext initiative

[zenren]

Originally Posted by san2

latest updates from Tata

I assume the source to be the moneycontrol article:
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/bus...ng_901581.html

It is good to mention the source of the information too, if you are doing copy-paste from news reports elsewhere.

[CARDEEP]

As per IAB, the CNG Cylinder has a capacity of 32 liters (good for 5 kgs gas in early morning & late evening refuels) & efficiency of 36 kmpkg. For more details refer below link:

http://indianautosblog.com/2013/06/t...nnounced-82700

[girishglg]

This was now expected for some time and seems to be a short term fix to many of its long term models. However its turnaround would not depend only on its products but on its servicing of customers as well. Hope some measures to that end will bring around a change in customer perceptions.

Some of them are not exciting enough to draw a huge barrage of customers to their show rooms but again some of them would like the Nano CNG and even the Nano 2013 does pack in some desirable and full car like features such as a now complete dash with those big utility glove boxes and integrated music system. Neat

The other thing that Tatas trip always is a good dose of marketing around its products, be it on Nano or even the Storme. Customers do not get to know much of the changes that have been incorporated and hence do not open up their purses.

On HORIZONNEXT- source - tatamotors - http://www.tatamotors.com/media/pres...ses.php?id=866

HORIZONEXT, a four-pronged customer-focused strategy, provides the best customer experience -- from best vehicle experience to superlative purchase experience and followed by technology-intense after market service support. The four pillars for this strategy are:

• Intense product focus
• Focus on world-class manufacturing practices
• Enriched customer purchase experience
• Consistent quality of service

[vinair]

Safari Storme gets a 'Explorer Edition'. Down right taste less!!! just looks at that bike carrier!! yuck!

http://indianautosblog.com/2013/06/t...-56000-82815/4

Just look at the two variants launched and the features they come with!! looks outright cheap and a very desperate effort!!

Some pics











Instead, TATA could have pumped the appeal by launching something like the 'Mountain Rescue Edition'. Its really a mouth watering design I should say!

[1100D]

Originally Posted by vinair

Instead, TATA could have pumped the appeal by launching something like the 'Mountain Rescue Edition'. Its really a mouth watering design I should say!

For those in the know, CMVR might have come in the way. Only this time, its Tata, not Mahindra!

[infotech58]

Really unimpressive updates to the Safari. And look at the placement of touch screen multimedia system . Such placement of touch screen system in a low slung sedan may have worked but in an SUV everytime driver has to get some information from the system or use it, s/he would have to take the attention away from the road and look down to the system: very dangerous, i say.

photo source: http://indianautosblog.com/2013/06/t...carousel-82821

[sriramv.iyer]

Originally Posted by infotech58

Really unimpressive updates to the Safari. And look at the placement of touch screen multimedia system . Such placement of touch screen system in a low slung sedan may have worked but in an SUV everytime driver has to get some information from the system or use it, s/he would have to take the attention away from the road and look down to the system: very dangerous, i say.

If this is real, this is downright DUMB. I cannot imagine what kind of product manager will approve this. Karl Slym should go to jail for this instead of the other case (atleast for hiring the guy who designed / approved this)

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by sriramv.iyer

If this is real, this is downright DUMB. I cannot imagine what kind of product manager will approve this. Karl Slym should go to jail for this instead of the other case (atleast for hiring the guy who designed / approved this)

Well, the power window switches in the Nano are a safety hazard, nothing less!

But then again, you really can't redesign the whole dashboard if you want to launch an update fast and cheap, can you?

We need to give time to Karl Slym and his team to get into the groove and not judge them right away. It takes time for a giant like TaMo to turn.

And if my Nano experience with the Tata dealership is anything to go by, change is happening. So let's just hope by 2015 Tatas really deliver something 'exciting'.

Edit: I see from the CNG Nano pics that the window switches have been moved behind the gear shifting lever. Well, at least that's better than being in front of the lever!

The picture gallery shows wider tyres at the front. Can someone confirm if the 2013 Nano indeed has wider front tyres? Also under the driver seat I can see two rectangular switches/something. Does anybody know what they are?

The hazard lights switch has now been taken off the steering (another ergonomic disaster) to the dashboard.

All in all, I think the 2013 Nano is miles better (though I really hate the gloveboxes. They waste so much usable space!)

[saket77]

Originally Posted by honeybee

The picture gallery shows wider tyres at the front.

I am not sure that if the Nano can ride with wider front tyres. The front tyres are deliberately thinner to tackle the problem of over-steering.

[moralfibre]

A detailed launch report is now available on This thread: (Tata Motors announces Horizonext with 8 simultaneous facelift launches). Please continue the discussion on the launch thread.

Thanks!