Tata Indigo

Tata Indigo is Tata Motors' subcompact sedan based on the Tata Indica platform. The indigenous Tata Indigo made its debut in 2002. It comes in sedan, station wagon and estate versions. The Indigo Marina, which is the estate version, was launched in 2004 at the New Delhi Auto Expo.

The Indigo brings with it a gamut of comfort and luxury features, and adheres to international safety standards. Built on a steel monocoque frame, the car has passed European standards of safety. It has undergone full frontal and offset frontal crash tests as well as endurance safety tests.

The Indigo comes in 2 petrol and 2 diesel variants in addition to the one new variant namely LS DICOR that comes with a 1.4L Common Rail Diesel engine.

The Indigo is available in two versions, petrol and diesel. The petrol version is available in five variants. All the variants are equipped with 1.4L Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) MPFI petrol engine and a 32-bit microprocessor that gives up a maximum power of 84 bhp along with a torque of 118 Nm.

The diesel version is available in seven variants. All these variants are geared up with a 1.4L turbocharged, Indirect Ignition engine with Intercooler that dishes out 69 bhp worth of power and 132 Nm of torque. As an edition to the line-up, the Indigo gets two new diesel variants with a DICOR engine that breathes through a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) Valve train, and makes 69 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque between 1,800 and 3,000 rpm. The DICOR is a low revving engine, easy at city traffic and a good sprinter on highways too.

The petrol version performs satisfactorily. Fuel economy has plenty of scope for improvement. Ride quality has some rough edges that could be fine tuned. The turbocharged diesel version has an exhaust note for the impressionable.

The Indigo has been designed to cater to the physical attributes of the average Indian; its front seats come with added lumbar and thigh support (for substantial comfort during long distance drives).

The Tata Indigo has a longer wheelbase and 14-inch wheels for better ride comfort. The longer wheelbase makes for spacious interiors and better storage space. Its exterior styling is characterised by a contemporary design with simplistic and uncluttered lines. Clear headlamps and trapezoidal taillights add to its overall appeal.

Safety features comprise anti-submarine front seats, child safety locks on the rear doors, an audio warning signal for the driver seat belt, central locking, a door open audio warning signal and a rear defogger.