THREE MODELS - BUT 1.4 FIAT ENGINE IN THEM ALL

+ Click to Enlarge FRESH LOOK FOR TATA: Tata has brought in a totally new version of its Indica hatchback as the start of an overhaul of its current model range.

October 9, 2009
By Les Stephenson

Tata SA has expanded its range of small family cars with the introduction of the all-new Indica Vista, a neat four-door hatchback, for now in three versions, that will eventually replace the current Indica and Indigo units.

It's a sprightly and cute city car with a sporty looks and distinctive headlights. Foglights nestle under the front bumper and there's now a modern honeycomb grille while at the rear the hatchback styling retains the vertically stacked light clusters that distinguished the previous model.

A sedan version will arrive sometime in 2010 and a 1.3-litre, 65kW diesel engine is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of that year.

For now the cars, each front-wheel drive, will be powered by a 1.4-litre, modern version of the four-cylinder Fiat FIRE engine used in the Uno – though today it's known as the Safire MPFI and is assembled in India by a Fiat/Tata joint venture.

The Ini and Aura entry models use an eight-valve version capable of 55kW at 6000 rpm and 114Nm at 3250rpm but the top-of-the-range Ignis has a 16-valve cylinder head that adds 10kW to the power output and two Nm to the torque.

The engine is mated to a new cable-aided five-speed manual gearbox with two synchronisers, a unit much slicker and more accurate than those in the Indica and Indigo that have been the staples for Tata since the automobile company arrived in South Africa four years ago.

The package is plenty strong enough for cruising at 120km/h (with 4000rpm showing on the dinky little tacho) and has enough torque to pull strongly from 60km/h in fifth gear – it's quiet, too.

Each of the three models has aircon, power-assisted steering, front and rear foul-weather lights, power plugs front and rear, height-adjustable steering wheel, folding rear seats, child locks, rear-window wash/wipe and demister and a third brake light.

The Aura adds power windows and key fob-controlled central locking and the Ignis comes with two front crash bags, anti-lock brakes, power external mirrors, higher-grade seats and a four-speaker audio system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity and remote controls on a four-spoked steering wheel.

Tata says the Vista has best-in-class cabin space and scores well with "utility spaces" and cupholders; the lockable glove box, the automaker says, will take a laptop. The shell is 3.8m long and 1.7m wide and its cabin is larger than the previous models.

PRICES UP

The centrally positioned instrument cluster is all new with fuel gauge, large central speedometer and a small rev counter. A blue digital readout with several functions, including two trip meters, sits between them.

The spoked rims you see in the pictures are optional extras – the standard rims are 14" steel shod with 175/65 tyres. The brakes use discs at the front, drums at the rear.

The car's prices are substantially up from the sub-R100 000 starting figure of the previous models, something Tata explains by the more comprehensive equipment lists and the more expensive Fiat engine.

Tata Indica Vista Ina – R119 900
Tata Indica Vista Aura – R127 900
Tata Indica Vista Ignis – R139 900

All three models come with a three-year or 100 000km warranty, three-year or 75 000km service plan and two years of roadside assistance.