[v12]

If you don't think there's enough room in the new CityRover, this is the car for you. The Indian company that builds it, TATA, has just taken the wraps off an estate version of the Indica - the supermini on which the British model is based - for its home market.

Our sources say the load-lugger should come to the UK towards the end of the year, and here's what it will look like. However, a Rover-badged version is unlikely to share its sister car's name - the TATA is called the Indigo Marina, and that would revive memories of the Morris Marina, a model MG Rover would probably rather forget!

The new estate shares its lengthened Indica platform with the Indigo, a four-door variant of the hatchback. But the saloon isn't expected to come to the UK, due to a lack of demand for such models in the British market.

Currently, there are no definite plans to bring the estate to these shores, but an MG Rover source confirmed that it's under consideration. Part of the model's appeal would be that it would become Britain's cheapest estate, undercutting the £9,000 Peugeot 206 SW. As for practicality, the newcomer offers more rear legroom than the standard Indica, while the rear seat splits 60/40 and folds flat to boost cargo space.

Indian-market vehicles tend to feature stiffened rear suspension to cope with carrying heavy loads on the country's rough roads. For the UK, it would probably have softer springing.

The car would be fitted with the same 82bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine as found in the CityRover hatchback. But TATA is currently developing a diesel powerplant to meet European emissions standards, which are far stricter than in India. If this engine option is taken up by MG Rover, an oil-burning CityRover could be on sale here as early as the middle of next year. Craig Cheetham

[GTO]

I dont know how many of you caught the Top Gear show on Sunday nite three weeks back, but they featured on the Merc SLR, the Porsche Cayenne and a muscled up Rover. During their discussion, Jeremy and that newcomer (dont remember his name) discussed the Tata Indica (City Rover) and had just one word to sum it up - RUBBISH! In fact, Jeremy and Tiff also refused to test-drive the City Rover, not only for the tv show but also for the top gear magazine.

The Tata Indica will no doubt sell in India cause it has the space and diesel ECONOMY for under 4 lacs! In fact, its nothing more than a millenium version of the Hindustan Ambassador. The only reason the Tata Indica sells is because of its diesel engine. How many people do you know have bought a petrol Indica, as against the millions of Indian buyers who opt for the Santro, Palio, Zen, Alto, 800 etc. The diesel Indica honestly has no competition from any other small diesel in India (but for the hugely unpopular and overpriced Palio). Do you know that according to the JD Quality survey from 2 years back, the ONLY CAR to have more problems than the Indica was the Hindustan Ambassador?? And this after bringing out all the V2's that had improvements imbibed in them.

Buttttttttttttt bring in the informed European buyer who does have other diesel minis to compare the City Rover too. Its a recipe for disaster. The City Rover is simply too unrefined, underpowered and crude to garner in the sales numbers we heard Mr. Tata boasting about. If initial reviews and UK sales figures are anything to go by, Ratan Tata would do well to call his entire shipment back to India and save the transportation and rebadging money

GTO

[Dippy]

Yeah I agree with GTO

This so called City Rover Estate will meet the same fate as the City Rover hatch aka Indica. Tata right now just dont have in them to produce a quality car for the European market right now

Dippy

[ajmat]

For the above reasons + possible integration problems in Korea, I sold my Telco shares

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (ajmat @ Feb. 23 2004,09:44)]For the above reasons + possible integration problems in Korea, I sold my Telco shares

LOL, talk about smart exit strategies. Good move Bro, good move.

GTO