The Tata Bolt and the Zest twins are the most significant launches for the ailing Indian auto maker in recent years. The duo bear an enormous responsibility of turning around the company's sales that is plunging into a bottomless pit.
Tata have stepped up the testing of the Vista and the Manza successors after their public appearance at the Auto Expo. Test mules had been caught in different parts of the country wearing camouflage with the respective brand names splashed over the body.
One such Bolt prototype was spotted testing in Bikaner, Rajasthan where the temperatures during this time of the year hover around 50 degree Celsius. Earlier, a similar test mule was spotted during rounds in Bangalore.
The hatchback continues to use the Vista platform but significant improvements have been made to the chassis, interior and exterior, to mount a hostile assault on segment leading hatchbacks Maruti Swift and Hyundai i20.
The new Revotron 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine generates 85 PS and 140 Nm of torque while the oil burner is the familiar 1.3-litre Quadrajet borrowed from Fiat (MultiJet) which makes 75 PS and 190 Nm of torque. Both engines will transmit power to front wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. Tata has announced the Zest diesel with AMT option and we expect the Bolt to also feature it.
The Zest sub-4 metre sedan is likely to be launched next month while the Bolt is expected to pitch in from October, during the festive season.
[Source: Gearonn.com]
