It's now the Tata Kite small car's turn to be spotted testing frequently. The Indica-based hatchback which is expected to launch sometime in the second half of next year would be the third new product from the Indian automaker, following the Zest and Bolt twins.
The latest set of spyshots comes from Technwheelz.com. As seen from the spy images, the silhouette of the car remains close to that of the Indica with the dimensions a notch smaller than the Bolt (which is based on the Vista).
The Kite is based on a vastly reworked version of the old Indica's platform. The interior and exterior would be comprehensively revamped as well as certain mechanical parts.
The powertrain lineup is expected to include the 1.2-litre Revotron turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that debuts in the Zest and the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel (Fiat MultiJet). Given that Tata has the technology at its disposal, the upcoming hatchback could be bestowed with the clutchless automated manual transmission (AMT) also.
The Tata Kite would be built alongside the Nano at the heavily under-utilized Sanand plant in Gujarat.
Competitors: Maruti Celerio, Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat
Expected Price: INR 3.5 – 4.5 lakhs, ex-Showroom
[Source: Technwheelz.com]
