New Tata Indica launched at Auto Expo 2008

The new Indica, code-named X1 till now, has been launched by Tata Motors. The Indica which initially faced teething troubles after its launch several years back has improved tremendously over time in all departments. The new Indica takes the successful model a step further.

The new Indica will co-exist alongside the older Indica versions, but will be priced higher.

The most important thing you notice are the different looks. It is overall sleeker and smoother - and even the Tata grille is beginning to look better! The swept back headlamp cluster, and the full length tail lamp cluster look attractive indeed.

The new Indica has prominent wheel arches. The car will sport a 5 speed synchromesh gearbox with overdrive, bigger 175/65 R 14 tubeless tyres and a twist beam suspension.

Size: The new Indica is longer than the current version by 320mm. Width is 1695mm, height is a respectable 1550 mm, and the wheelbase has also been lengthened by 70mm to 2470 mm.

The rear windscreen, according to Tata, helps give the passengers a more spacious feel in the cabin.

The new Indica will also sport new diesel and petrol engines and a new suspension.

The car will be available in the market towards the second half of 2008. So if you like what you see and want to buy it immediately, you are out of luck. A minimum of 6 months wait for availability is what you are looking at.

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.