The Hindu Business Line : Tatas turning a concept into reality

Unlike earlier, the new sedan concept that Tata Motors displayed at the Geneva Auto Show 2007, the Elegante, will most surely make it to the roads. It is based on an all-new platform.

From the drawing board to the road - S. Muralidhar

The automotive industry's favourite showcase is the Geneva Auto Show. The International Motor Show has been a great platform for unveiling not just new production models, but also concept cars. Concepts are usually technology showcases that attempt to point towards trends and often companies fine-tune the concept to eventually launch the same as a production model during later years.

The only Indian participant in this year's Geneva show was Tata Motors, which has been a regular at the annual event for the last ten years.

In the past, Tata Motors has generally showcased concept cars at Geneva, with the exception of the Indica prototype which was unveiled at the show in 1998. The concept cars that have been co-developed by Tata Motors along with design houses such as IDEA of Italy have enabled the Indian company to consistently present a futuristic outlook to its car manufacturing prowess.

Earlier concepts

The concepts that have been showcased in the past include the multi-utility concept Cliffrider (last year) and the Aria Roadster and coupe (the three-door Safari concept that was done up by Heuliez of France), the Indiva (a 7-seater, MPV concept, which was conceptualised and designed by IDEA of Italy), the Tata Indigo Advent softroader and the Xover (a crossover between a sedan and a family van).

While some of the European versions of Tata cars in production were also on display at the Tata stall during the previous years' shows, the concepts took centre-stage. While most concepts make it to production in some form or the other, almost all of Tata Motors' concepts of the previous years have never made it beyond the prototype stage.

A realisable concept

However, Tata Motors' presence in this year's Geneva Auto Show had one big difference — the turntable at the Tata stall in this year's show had on display a car that will most surely make it to the roads. The new sedan concept that Tata Motors displayed at the Geneva Palexpo Auto Show 2007 was the Elegante. This new concept will be the basis, in terms of design and platform, for the second generation of the Tata Indica hatchback and the Indigo sedan. The new models of these two popular cars are expected to roll out next year and a number of features will be borrowed from the Elegante concept.

The Elegante' concept looks extremely futuristic with its LED headlamps and tail-lamps, attractive, oversized chrome bonnet grille, the tight shut lines of the body panels and the very European design of the sedan as a whole. And though it does look like a futuristic concept, it also looks eminently `manufacturable'. This is the key point here and that exactly could be the reason why the new generation Indica and Indigo will be exciting products to look forward to, if the build quality of the concept can be taken forward into the production models, that is.

New platform

The Tata Elegante' is a sedan that is based on an all-new platform. It is larger than the current Indigo sedan, in terms of both exterior and interior dimension, and has been conceptualised to incorporate 4-cylinder, transverse mounted petrol and diesel engines with sizes varying from 1.4 litres through to two litres and even a compact V6 petrol power unit.

Diesel engines featuring the latest common rail direct injection technology, with turbochargers or petrol powertrains with variable valve timing capabilities, could be developed for use in the new vehicles enabling them to comply with Euro V emission norms. Depending on the type and size of the engines in use, peak power generated is expected to vary from 90 PS to 200 PS with maximum torque delivery of up to 280 Nm. Transmission options that are being contemplated and that can be accommodated in the concept car include 6-speed manual and automatic gearboxes.

Besides building and enabling it to meet all European safety, crash-worthiness and emission standards, the Tata Elegante's features could also include satellite navigation system, cruise control, integrated blue tooth compatibility, heated mirrors, rain sensor, front and rear parking sensors, and many other contemporary features.

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