Tata Motors blitzkrieg of new products at its biggest ever presence at 2008 Auto Expo

People's Car to be unveiled on January 10

3 launches, 3 unveilings in the passenger car range

New CV attractions

Tata Motors is showcasing a new range of 17 models in cars, utility vehicles, trucks and buses at the 5200-square metre Tata-Fiat pavilion, its largest ever presence at the Auto Expo, being held in New Delhi from January 11-17, 2008.

The company launched the new Sumo Grande, Indigo CS (Compact Sedan) and the Indica Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) version which will be progressively available in showrooms through January and beginning of February. The new generation Indica, which goes on sale in the latter part of 2008, was also unveiled at the Auto Expo. Also on display, for the first time in India, is the Xenon XT (Cross Terrain), a life style pick-up to be launched later in the year.

Tata Motors will be unveiling the much awaited People's Car on January 10.

From its commercial vehicles business, Tata Motors’ displays include the 28-seater bus and the air conditioned low-entry bus from the joint venture with Marcopolo of Brazil, Tata LPT 3118 TC 8x2 BS II Multi Axle Truck, LPS 4923 TC 6X4 Tractor, LPT 909 EX2 Refrigerated Container Truck, Cargo Panel Van, Xenon Singe Cab pick-up, Ace 1-tonne & CNG Ace mini-trucks, and the Winger Executive - an Office-on-Wheels concept vehicle.

Passenger Vehicles

New Indica: The new generation Indica has been given a complete makeover and surprises with its stunning looks with a two box construction. It has a sporty frontal look with its distinctive wide-eyed stylised headlamps and pronounced signature Tata grill. The look is accentuated by muscular wheel arches sharp creases merging with its contoured surfaces and the sleek, full-length tail lamps. In the interior, the distinctive instrument cluster is now placed in the centre of the dashboard between the passenger and the driver seats.

The new Indica is bigger than the current Indica with a length of 3795 mm (existing 3675 mm), width of 1695 mm, height of 1550 mm and wheelbase of 2470 mm (existing 2400 mm). The rear sloping wind screen also increases the sense of spaciousness in the passenger cabin. The new Indica will be available with a new range of world class diesel and petrol engines and transmissions with a new suspension. The car will be offered with a new 1.3 litre Quadra-Jet Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel engine and a 1.2 litre Safire MPFI VVT Petrol engine, which will be manufactured at the new Tata-Fiat joint venture plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra, besides existing Tata powertrains. The car will sport a 5 speed synchromesh gearbox with overdrive, bigger 175/65 R 14 tubeless tyres and a twist beam suspension. The new Indica will be launched in the latter part of 2008 and will coexist with the present Indica range at a higher price point.

Indigo CS (Compact Sedan): The world’s first sub four-metre sedan, the Tata Indigo CS is positioned as the first car for young professionals. It carries forward the cabin seating comfort and space package, that is now closely associated with the Indigo range and a capacious 400 litre boot. Clever and efficient design has made it possible to encapsulate this entire package within the four metre length, making this car a complete package to address the combined demands of space and manoeuvrability in our congested cities. The Indigo CS sports a stylish new tail light cluster in the rear embedded in a smart new rear profile completed with a new, trimmer rear bumper. The front of the car has also been visually differentiated with a new front grille and new headlamps.

The new car is available in both petrol and diesel variants. The petrol variant is equipped with a multi-point fuel injection engine powered by a 32bit microprocessor and churns out a maximum power of 65PS @ 5200 rpm. The diesel variant comes with the turbo-charged intercooled engine that generates 70PS @ 4500 rpm. The petrol variants will have beige interiors, while the diesel variants will have black interiors. The Indigo CS will be available in two trim levels – a basic AC model & an AC, power steering model. It will be made available in an exciting new Scarlet Red colour, apart from the existing range of Indigo shades. Priced attractively, the car goes on sale mid-January 2008.

Indica V2 DICOR: The Indica V2 has been a leader in the diesel hatchback market in India, ever since its launch in 1998, when it created the diesel small car segment. In 2005, it strengthened its diesel portfolio with the launch of Indica V2 Turbo, a turbo-charged diesel car. It has now further expanded its diesel portfolio with the launch of its latest common rail diesel offering- the Indica V2 DICOR.

The car features a water-cooled 1.4 L direct injection common rail (DICOR) diesel engine with exhaust gas recirculation and an oxidation catalyst with a turbocharger and an intercooler. This in turn results in an enhanced output of 70 PS @ 4000 rpm and an increased torque of 140 Nm @ 1800-3000 rpm, resulting in excellent pick up and a superior overall driving experience. The DICOR engine also ensures linear power delivery from the start and up to 15% better fuel efficiency. The Indica V2 DICOR goes on sale immediately with a price (ex-showroom, Delhi) of Rs.4.25 lakhs.

Sumo Grande: The new Sumo Grande combines the looks of an SUV with the comforts of a family car. It has been specifically designed to satisfy the needs of city customers in the areas of driveability, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency. The Sumo Grande sports an all new styling with clean chiselled looks mating with flowing contours. The tall aggressive stance is complimented by large clear headlamps, and a cutaway air dam in the front. The clean rear look, with the spare wheel tucked under the body, is accentuated by attractive tail lights and a chrome overlay.

Designed with a longer wheelbase of 2550 mm (existing 2400 mm), the Sumo Grande sports comfortable 3 row seating with best in class third row seats. Beige interiors are complimented by fire and stain resistant fabric upholstery. Dual HVAC with roof integrated louvers ensures personalised climate adjustment for the occupants in each row. Power steering, power windows, motorised ORVMs, height adjustable driver’s seat and a state of the art CD/MP3 music system further add to the comforts and convenience of a family traveling in the Sumo Grande. The vehicle is powered by the new generation 2.2 L direct injection common rail (DICOR) engine, fitted with a variable geometry turbocharger creating a perfect blend of performance and fuel efficiency. Maximum power and torque of 120 PS and 250 Nm, coupled with high torque levels over a wide RPM band enhance driveability in stop start city traffic. For a vehicle its size, the Sumo Grande is extremely manoeuvrable with the turning circle radius of 5.25 m, similar to a small car.

The Sumo Grande will be available in 3 variants – Lx, Ex and Gx -- all of which have two seating configurations – 6+1 and 7+1. The vehicle will be available in 7 colours, including 4 new shades, Sunset Orange, Zephyr Green, Mineral Red and Marine Blue. The Sumo Grande range is priced in the range of Rs.6.55 lakhs to Rs.7.49 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). It comes with an enhanced warranty of 2 years or 75000 kms. (whichever is earlier). An additional 2 years’ warranty can be availed through the extended warranty option. The vehicle will be available in showrooms across the country from the first week of February 2008.

Safari Dicor 2.2 VTT: The new Safari DICOR 2.2 VTT range was launched in October 2007 and has been received successfully in the market.

The range has two tone beige interiors, stylish new day and night instrument panel and tubeless tyres, and comes with thoughtful features like: follow-me-home that illuminates the path after parking, express-down power windows and a convenient feature that helps in locating the car in a crowded parking lot at night. The Safari is amongst the safest SUVs in its category. It meets full frontal crash safety norms of Europe (as per 74/297/EEC) and is available with dual airbags and ABS with EBD in its range. Known for its great off-roading capability with a shift on the fly 4x4 option, high ground clearance and high approach & departure angles, the Safari handles cities and the outdoors with equal ease. Rear seat comfort is the best in its class and the camera aided reverse guidance system is unique.

Other features include: DVD player with LCD screens in the seats, electrically adjustable side rearview mirrors, tiltable & collapsible power steering, height adjustable driver's seat, driver's seat belt warning & door open warning, alloy wheels and engine immobiliser.

Xenon XT (Cross Terrain): The new Xenon XT (Cross Terrain) is a lifestyle pick-up with stylish looks, comfortable interiors and 4 x 4 off-road capabilities. Xenon XT has an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism for the 4x4 application with limited slip differential.

The vehicle has charcoal grey interiors and can comfortably seat 5. It offers a loading volume of 870 L. If offers car like comfort and convenience features like power steering, power windows, central locking, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), electrically adjustable side rear view mirrors and height adjustable seat belts. It also comes equipped with an engine immobiliser, seat belt warning & door open warning, 16 inch alloy wheels and tubeless tyres.

It is powered by a 3.0 L direct injection common rail (DICOR) diesel engine with a maximum power of 115 PS (at 3000 rpm) and maximum torque of 300 Nm (at 1800 – 2000 rpm). The vehicle will be launched later in 2008 and will be available with a wide accessory package.

Commercial Vehicles

Ace 1-tonne: The high performance, low maintenance Ace 1-tonne, combines a 1-tonne payload mini-truck with sporty car-like features that enhance driver comfort and handling. The Ace 1-tonne comes with Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) for all-weather driveability. Power steering is another performance-enhancing feature that comes as standard. It has an ergonomically designed, all-steel cabin with power windows and body-coloured bumpers and door handles. The Ace 1-tonne is equipped with an immobiliser for vehicle security. Disc and drum brakes in the front and rear respectively ensure high performance in sudden braking.

CNG Ace: The Tata Ace is now available in a CNG version, with a number of features that are a first in its category. The CNG Ace is India’s first MPFI (multi-point fuel injection) mini-truck on CNG, offering good pick-up and engine performance. It is equipped with deceleration cut-off for better fuel economy, another first in its category. Unlike other CNG vehicles, the CNG Ace comes with a user-friendly CNG-level indicator. The Ace meets all safety norms, including frontal crash, roof crush and rear wall strength. To ensure the safety of the driver and co-driver, seat belts are standard fitment. Another never-before safety feature is the distributor-less, non-wasted spark-ignition with misfire detection. It has an ergonomically designed, all-steel cabin, including elegant two-toned seats, clear instrument cluster, utility trays, magazine pockets, twin-blade, twin-speed wipers and combination switches. Disc and drum brakes in the front and rear respectively ensure high performance in sudden braking while the large windscreen and rear window allows for higher level of vision and clarity.

Xenon Single Cab: The Xenon Single Cab is a pick-up with stylish looks, comfortable interiors and 4x4 off-road capabilities. Xenon Single Cab has an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism with limited slip differential that facilitates easy driving. The Xenon Single Cab offers car like comfort and convenience features like power steering, power windows, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), electrically adjustable side rear view mirrors with heating and height adjustable seat belts. Other features include engine immobiliser and CLU (Central Locking Unit), clear lens head lamp and tail lamp, ignition switch with illumination ring, seat belt warning & door open warning, high mount stop lamp, alloy wheels and tubeless tyres.

Winger Executive Office-on-wheels concept vehicle – developed by DC Design for Tata Motors: A specially commissioned concept vehicle, the Winger Executive, combines the practicality and driveability of the Tata Winger, with cutting-edge design and the connectivity and conveniences of a modern office. An office-on-wheels, as conceived by Dilip Chhabria’s DC Design, the Winger Executive, built on the platform of the recently-launched Tata Winger, is equipped with a secure LAN connection, a printer, scanner and copier on board; alongside a full-fledged AV/entertainment centre consisting of a DVD player, LCD screens and speaker set-up, making for a plush and up-to-the-minute mobile office for up to 4 people.

Cargo Panel Van: The Tata Cargo Panel Van is a ready-to-use cargo carrier for applications like cash van, parcel and/or courier van. It is powered by a 1948cc TCIC engine. Attractively styled on the recently launched Winger platform, the Cargo Panel Van offers power steering and independent suspension, both firsts for its category, thereby offering good manoeuvrability with a 6.4 metre turning radius, safety, driver-comfort and ease of handling.

LPT 909 EX2 Refrigerated Container Truck: The Tata LPT 909 EX2 Refrigerated Container (Reefer truck) is a truck equipped with a fully built refrigeration solution. The EX2 is the next generation of the company's EX range, and comes with a number of performance-boosting features as standard fitment, such as power steering and a clutch booster. The LPT 909 EX2 also offers a deluxe cabin for improved driver comfort, enhanced service intervals and a best-in-class warranty on the vehicle. The Reefer box is made of bonded PUF panels without joints and a GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) skin, making for better longevity and a lighter box with improved payload carrying capacity. The GRP outer panels do not require painting and are rust proof, while the anti-slip polyester floor coating inside the box increases safety. The Reefer is capable of maintaining the temperature of its 25 cum box at -25o C with ambient temperature around 40o C. The 5-lip sealing bonded panel doors are lighter for easy handling, open 270o for easy loading/unloading, and seal securely, thus reducing load on the refrigerating unit. The Reefer box comes fitted with a rear tail-lift to enable easy pallet loading as and when required.

Tata LPT 3118 TC 8x2 BS II Truck: Is India’s first 8X2 Multi Axle truck with ‘Lift Axle’. It is fitted with Automatic Load Sensing Value for optimum Lift Axle function. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is 31,000 kgs, offering more payload, minimum operating cost and in turn more earnings for the customer. It delivers a maximum power of 177HP@ 2500 rpm and torque of 650 Nm@1500 rpm and gradeability of 21%. It has a maximum gear speed of 79.1kmph, an overall length of 9290 mm (for cab) and a ground clearance of 248 mm. The vehicle is available in 3 variants -- cowl, cab chassis and cab load body. The Tata LPT 3118 TC 8x2 is an ideal vehicle for cement, container, tankers, petrochemicals, fertilisers, food grain, timber and general cargo applications.

Tata LPS 4923 TC 6x4 Tractor: Is a 49 tonne GCW Tractor-Trailer. The vehicle has been fitted with a proven world class Cummins engine with matching Eatonne gearbox. It offers 25% gradeability for use in tough terrains. The vehicle has inverted bogie suspension, which has long life and good axle alignment retention property, used for the first time by Tata Motors in this class of vehicle. It is a durable and world-class vehicle, with easy maintenance, less down time and offers enhanced safety and comfort features. The engine delivers a superior power of 230HP. Its torque is 814 Nm, resulting in less fatigue and more mileage. The vehicle is equipped with an Anti Lock Brake System (ABS). The Tata LPS 4923 offers some features such as inter-axle differential lock, serrated coupling, small silencer size, propeller shaft, water-cooled compressor and, air-assisted clutch booster. The vehicle is available in 3 variants - cowl, cabin chassis and fully built with 3-axle trailer. It is an ideal vehicle for steel coil, cement, containers and ODC (over dimensional cargo).

28-seater Tata Marcopolo bus: This contemporarily styled 28-seater Starbus is among the initial offerings of the Tata Marcopolo joint venture. It boasts of an attractive front face, dashboard, seats and superior fits & finish, while offering the driver good visibility and driving comfort, thereby reducing fatigue. Along with its international styling, it is also engineered for the lowest noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels in its category, thereby offering never-before passenger comfort, with a wide and spacious interior layout. A large rear luggage-space, pneumatically-operated driver-controlled passenger door and anti-skid vinyl flooring, all go towards improved passenger convenience and safety.

Air-Conditioned Tata Marcopolo Low Entry bus: Ideally suited for BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) application, the air-conditioned Low Entry Starbus offers its passengers comfort with contemporary styling. With its low entry height of just 380 mm and wide doorways, the Starbus LE allows for easy and fast passenger entry and exit, reducing halt times and overall trip lengths and thereby increasing operating efficiencies.

Inside the bus, the wide and spacious interiors are kept consistently cool even at halts, with air-curtains at the doors. A rear engine bus, the Starbus LF, cuts noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels inside for passenger comfort. Injection-moulded plastic seats resist the wear and tear of daily passenger transportation. The bus incorporates safety-enhancing features such as door opening and closing signals, seat belts, emergency door signals, pneumatic doors which arrest bus movement if open, and a manual ramp for the physically challenged. Its structural design takes into account corrosion resistance, electrical and fire insulation for improved longevity. In keeping with the features of BRTS lines internationally, the air-conditioned Starbus LF also offers an electronic destination display integrated with voice announcement system and compatible to GPS and a Smart Card ticketing system.

About Tata Motors Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of Rs.32,426 crores in 2006-07. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina. The company already distributes Fiat-branded cars in India. Tata Motors' international footprint include Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pickup vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the UK, and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.