The Hindu Business Line : Geneva Motor Show — A concept called Cliffrider

Droves of desi tourists are yet to arrive on their annual summer yatra to the land of pristine snow and soothing sights — Switzerland. The long Swiss winter shows no sign of abating and even as March rolls in, sub-zero temperatures are as yet the daily average much to the delight of tourists planning their escape from the sweltering sub-continent.

But despite the weak winter sun in Geneva, this chic Swiss city is already warming up to one Indian company — Tata Motors — which has been a repeat visitor for nine years in a row.

This time of the year Geneva attracts a different breed of visitors. Auto journalists, exhibitors, businessmen and chief executives of top automobile companies of the world converge to put up grand stalls, take part and soak in the latest from the world of wheels at the Geneva Motor Show.

This international motor show is widely recognised as one of the world's biggest annual exhibitions of everything auto.

Tata Motors has been at the Geneva Motor Show for nine years now. And at each one of its previous visits here, the company had its own special way of showcasing its design and engineering capabilities and, for that matter, its `Indianness' itself, with a former Miss India being in attendance at one of the unveiling ceremonies.

As has been the case in the past, this year too Tata Motors' was the lone Indian presence at the 76th Geneva Motor Show. And it showcased a bit of Indian culture this yearas well.

The Tata stall had ushers sporting bindis and dressed elegantly in Indian couture, blending effortlessly into all the glitz and glare of the Geneva Palexpo stall. But hogging all the limelight at the Tata Motors stall was the company's new concept vehicle — the Cliffrider.

The Cliffrider is a swank sounding and swank looking concept that Tata Motors has co-developed with Idea Institute of Italy, the same design house that originally designed and prototyped the Indica.

The new Tata Cliffrider concept has been derived from the Tata "Crossover" Concept (Xover), which was originally unveiled at last year's Geneva Auto Show. Sporting a silhouette, like a high-slung sedan, the Tata Cliffrider is a dynamic, definitely futuristic package that combines lifestyle and sporty usage with the practical functionality of a pick-up truck.

During the past year, other multinational manufacturers have also unveiled concepts that represent a futuristic mix, between a sedan and a pick-up. This Tata Motors concept is said to showcase the company's idea of how a utility product could evolve in future for the discerning customer through a truly multi-purpose, multi-terrain capability of a family tourer and a pick-up.

The Cliffrider barely looks like a pick-up. Its exterior styling cues carry forward the visual theme of the Tata Crossover concept. Unlike the Crossover, the door trims in the Cliffrider show a continuity of form due to the disguised central pillar, with the front door hinged at its leading edge and the rear door hinged at its trailing edge, allowing easier, more comfortable access to the rear seats. An entry format that the industry also informally calls suicide doors. The interior of the Cliffrider emphasises space and elegance with an innovative ventilation system and driver-oriented instrumentation stacked and stylishly packaged in the steering column.

Two-side sunroofs allow better ventilation and interior lighting in addition to offering a panoramic view of the exteriors. Other features, such as the long beam lights mounted on the roll bar, and the roof-mounted rails and load-body suited to carrying mountain bikes, skis or snowboards, reinforce the "fun and adventure" image for this concept vehicle.

It can also carry goods in the load tray or platform at the rear, which can be hidden from view as well as protected from weather conditions by a sliding cover.

Configured to be fitted with a range of Euro IV engines, including a V6 Petrol and next generation Common Rail Diesel power trains of varying configurations, the Cliffrider would offer four passenger seats, multiple airbags, ABS, traction control, navigation control, automatic air-conditioning and a host of other contemporary features. The Tata Cliffrider would also be available in 4X2 and 4X4 versions.

Tata Motors has showcased at least two concepts at the Geneva show that have since made it into production — the Indica and the Indigo.

The company also displayed three others, including the Crossover, the Cliffrider and the two-seater Aria, which have remained concepts.

The prospect of these making it to the assembly line is tantalising.

The Tata Motors Managing Director, Mr Ravi Kant, says that the first of the current concepts to roll out from a factory floor may be the Crossover. If and when it does get into production, the vehicle will have the potential of aiding the company realise its global ambitions.

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