In a bid to regain lost ground in the Indian passenger car market, Tata Motors is planning to replace its entire line-up with a new breed of cars. The Zest and Bolt were the first two all-new products under the company's Horizonext product strategy, and soon we'll see more products in other mass segments. One of these segments will be the entry-level hatchback segment, where Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai currently rule the roost. Though Tata fields the Indica eV2 in this segment, it is fetching no volume for the company because of its outdated looks, technology and engine options. Long story short, the company is now working on a new hatchback - the Kite - that will replace the ageing Indica eV2.
The company has, in fact, also started testing the car in India, and one such test mule was spotted by our avid reader and follower - Manoj Prabakaran - yesterday on the Electronic City Flyover in Bengaluru. Though the front fascia of the car is not clearly visible, the car is expected to get the new Tata signature grille with the 'Humanity Line' flowing into the bug-eyed head-lamps.
The most interesting part about the Kite hatchback is its rear profile; it looks completely different and more attractive than any other Tata hatchback or sedan available in the market today. As we can see in the spied picture, the Kite hatchback will get a sloping rear windshield, an integrated spoiler and a circular pattern for the defogger. While the Bolt still resembles the Indica Vista, the Kite hatchback will have a completely new design.
Powering this small hatchback will be a new 1.05-litre, 3-cylinder diesel engine that will produce a maximum power output of 64bhp and 140Nm of peak torque. The petrol model, on the other hand, will get the same 1.2-litre unit that powers the Bolt. To be built on the XO platform, the new hatchback is expected to be manufactured at Tata's Sanand, Gujarat-based facility. Since the company has started testing the vehicle already, we expect it to arrive by mid-2015.
