Car News in India

Tata Motors rolled out the Tata Aria , which the company claims is the country’s first ever cross-over car that straddles an SUV and MUV, priced between Rs. 12.91 Lakh to Rs. 15.50 Lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi).

“The car has been designed to be in line with European standards and meets the Euro V emission norms,” said Tata Motors Managing Director for India operations P M Telang. “By next year, we will come up with a left-hand drive version of the vehicle (for exports),” he added. However, it is speculated that that it will be tagged in around Rs 15 Lakh or even more. Telang said that the company would be launching the Aria in Italy, Spain and Poland.

Chief Executive and Managing Director Carl-Peter Forster said that the company would export the vehicle to Latin America and Asia as well. He said, the company is not looking at entering the US market, which he said is the toughest market in the world, and hence would need hefty investment. To another query, he said, by next year, Tata Motors would roll out one model of the premium Land Rover from a local assembly unit in the country.

Aria has a 2.2 litre DICOR engine with Variable Turbine Technology, 16 valves and Twin Overheated Camshaft with 32 bit ECU, generating 138 bhp and 320 Nm torque. Positioned to take on Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo, the Aria with its three rows of seats, attempts to blend the benefits of a family-friendly luxury tourer with the dynamics and visual cues of an activity-oriented SUV.

Aria is packed with an in-dash satellite navigation system, rain sensing auto wipers, auto climate control, a reverse guide camera and darkness sensing auto headlights. Safety features include 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), offered by an Indian manufacturer for the first time.

A team of over 150 individuals, comprising multi-discipline specialists from the Tata Motors Group and vendor-partners, worked on the project to create this crossover.