The Hindu Business Line : Tata Motors to launch all new Indigo

I am planning to buy the Tata Indigo LX model. But I hear that Tata Motors is planning to give the Indigo sedan a facelift and is to launch the new model with its own CRDi engine series. Is this true? How exactly will the new Indigo vary from the existing LS version?

B. Manjunath

Yes, Tata Motors is planning to launch a new, spruced up version of the Indigo sedan, as part of its strategy to upgrade the car's package, including exterior design, interior trim quality and the engine.

A part of the plan involves replacing the current turbo-charged, inter-cooled, 1,405cc indirect injection engine with a new common rail direct injection Dicor engine, such as the one that is powering the Tata Safari Sports Utility Vehicle.

The new Dicor engine for the Indigo would mean increased peak power and torque output.

In addition to the change in the engine department, there could be a number of changes in terms of car's exterior design and interior trim quality, including dashboard layout. The changes will primarily be targeted at improving the premium image of the sedan.

The new-look Maruti WagonR with the Duo option and better mileage (the company claims 10 per cent more) was launched recently. Which one do you recommend — the Hyundai Santro Xing eRLX XO or the WagonR LXi Duo? My budget is Rs 4-4.5 lakh. Fuel efficiency (both on the highways and in city) and riding comfort are important to me.

Adarsh K.A

Maruti Udyog has beaten the others to it with the dual fuel option in the new WagonR. Hyundai is surely planning a dual fuel variant of the Santro, but it may only be available by March next year.

Maruti claims that the 1.1-litre petrol engine and the air-conditioning system of the WagonR have been retuned for better fuel efficiency and the improvement is to the tune of about ten per cent. If the WagonR Duo is run exclusively on LPG, then the running cost per kilometre is expected to drop by about 30 per cent according to the company (combined with the lower cost of LPG fuel).

Maruti has also rectified a few problems in the new WagonR compared to the earlier version of the car.

The 50:50 split folding seats at the rear of the car have been replaced with a full bench seat to enable easier, more comfortable seating for three passengers at the rear. With the redesigned exteriors, the new WagonR definitely has more novelty value than its earlier version.

Queries may be sent to: q&q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post to Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

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