Tata's 'Revo'lutionary Zica

| JANUARY 18, 2016, 12:00 AM IST

Photo Credits: pg 2- anchor

Tata Motors being India’s third largest car manufacturer has surprisingly not seen any action in the budget hatchback segment from as long as the launch of the original Indica. Of course, the Bolt came in recently and was placed a slab higher but couldn’t capture the market as well as Tata would have hoped. Step in, the all new Tata Zica that was unveiled on December 1 and aims to fill up the space for a fresh product between the Nano and Bolt hatchbacks. It has been designed on the company’s latest platform which will also underpin a sub 4-metre sedan in the near future. It sits in the same category as the Maruti Celerio, Chevrolet Beat and the aging Hyundai i10.The new Tata Zica happily breaks away from the ‘cliché’ design language from Tata for a more modern and sophisticated look. For once I would like to begin with the rear which now use horizontally mounted taillights with L-shaped detailing for the stop lights. There are faded creases on the tailgate which give the rear a very European look, which coincidentally were designed in Tata’s UK design house. The front also gets new touches like the curved glossy black front grille and a neatly designed lower section housing the chrome ringed fog lamps. On the whole, the Zica looks more like a contemporary hatchback should, with a much needed ‘with-the-times’ design language.The interiors like the exteriors look fresh and again direct to a new design theme from the company. The instrument cluster is legible and the multi info display in between the two binnacles gives an upmarket feel. The dashboard on the whole is characterized by a lot of hexagonal shapes like the steering wheel, infotainment system, HVAC surrounds and also the recess on the top of the dashboard. The Tata Zica misses out on automatic climate control system but you don’t miss its presence as the shift-knob system chills the cabin efficiently. The surrounds of the window AC vents can be customised with two colour paint shades to match your exterior paint colour to give a sporty look to the cabin but soon you realise this is something that you don’t require; the standard glossy black finish looks equally good. Seats upfront are pretty comfy and the driving position is good. At the rear, the foam used provides good amounts of comfort if only the cabin was a bit wider.

Another quick mention is the ConnectNext infotainment system that supports NaviMaps app on Android OS while your phone is linked to it. This provides you with turn by turn navigation on the display screen of the car without the help of a network or internet connection which is the most innovative and helpful feature you will find on the insides.The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol motor is all new but surprisingly Tata has branded this unit under the ‘Revotron’ umbrella which initially started out with a turbocharged motor in the Zest sub-compact sedan. First impressions are that this 3-cylinder unit does not feel as enthusiastic as the K10B unit under the hood of the Maruti Celerio and is far more audible too. Power delivery is extremely linear which makes you feel it produces a few horses less than the rated 85PS and 114Nm.

The all new 1.05-litre 3-cylinder Revotorq diesel immediately feels much better insulated than the petrol and livelier in the mid-range thanks to a flat torque curve at 140Nm from 1800-3000RPM. Peak power of 70PS comes in at 4000RPM and here too is delivered in a linear manner with no diesel-typical sudden surge. This engine is meant for the city beyond which it will definitely struggle especially with full occupancy of seats and the boot. Both engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The Tata Zica gets an advanced dual path suspension setup that makes it an impressive pothole soaker along with near flat cornering ability. There is slight firmness in the suspension and a rare thud reminds you about the fact. Steering feel is adequate and you get reasonable understanding of what is under the front wheels. High speed stability is impressive and braking is strong but lacks some of the feel to your feet.Tata Motors looks finely in tune to change their brand perception with the new Zica. The interiors look upmarket, it rides well and being a Tata you are promised of a widespread service network too. The Tata Zica will be launched soon on the 20th of January, 2016 and will be priced competitively starting at Rs. 3.50 lakhs (Ex-showroom, Goa).

Specifications Revotron Petrol Revotorq Diesel

Displacement 1199cc, 3-cylinder 1047cc, 3-cylinder

Max Power 85 PS @ 6,000 RPM 70 PS @ 4,000 RPM

Max Torque 114 Nm @ 3,500 RPM 140 Nm @ 1,800-3,000 RPM

Bore/Stroke 77 mm x 85.8 mm 75 mm x 79 mm

Kerb Weight 1,012 Kgs 1,080 Kgs

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