Overview:
Tata Xenon XT (Cross Terrain) is a new lifestyle truck from Tata Motors. This new car from the company marks a significant milestone in the successful journey of Tata Motors by creating a whole new niche in the country's automobile market.
A lifestyle pick-up truck is an entirely new concept for the Indian car market. However, in the year 2005, Tata had launched a similar kind of product by the name Tata TL 4x4. Unfortunately, the car was pushed out of the market because of its high price tag. Now with the introduction of the Xenon XT the car manufacturer desires to tap the 'lifestyle segment' in the country after witnessing its success in Thailand, Algeria, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
Tata Xenon XT is passionately designed with a blend of looks and performance. It holds aggressive exteriors, refined interiors, excellent off-road capabilities, and an impressive load capacity. It is mainly positioned against the Mahindra Scorpio Getaway and is expected to be a big hit in the agrarian parts of the country, especially Punjab. According to the company it is believed that the potential car buyers of the Xenon XT are the rich farmers of Punjab and off-road enthusiasts who love hunting and adventure.
Powertrain and Performance:
Under the hood, the Xenon XT is equipped with a 2.2-litre VTT DICOR (Variable Turbine Technology - Direct Injection Common Rail) diesel engine that churns out an awesome power of 139 bhp.
DICOR or Direct Injection Common Rail engine is an advanced engine that is controlled by a 32-bit electronic control unit and incorporates state-of-the-art technology. The key objectives of this engine are lowering emission and fuel consumption while delivering incredible power and torque through the entire speed range. In addition, the Variable Turbine Technology mated to the powerful diesel engine provides exceptional flexibility in controlling air pressure of the engine while boosting power and torque. This advanced technology also helps to lower fuel consumption and emission under all engine operating conditions. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and an intelligent ECU (engine control unit). The manual transmission is a synchromesh transmission that synchronizes the speeds of mating parts so that they don't clash during gear changes. The ECU automatically reduces the power of the engine in case of overheating.
Furthermore, the Xenon XT is equipped with the electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism and the limited slip differential. Shift-on-the-fly mechanism enables the car to shift from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive while the vehicle is moving and the limited slip differential limits the torque and speed difference between the wheels. Both these technologies improve the off-road capabilities of the car.
Further adding to the performance, handling, and stability is a tough shock-absorbing chassis, refined independent double wishbone suspension in the front, and a parabolic leaf spring in the rear. The front and rear suspensions are linked with shock absorbers and the front gets additional anti-roll bars to deliver excellent ride quality. All these together ensure perfect balance and a smooth drive with maximum payload even on the toughest of terrains. When it comes to rattling through the congested city traffic, the small turning radius of the car makes it as modest as a sedan or an SUV. It gives a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
Build and Styling:
The Tata Xenon XT is aggressively designed with a crashworthy chassis that makes the car a rock solid performer. Furthermore, the distinctive, smart, stylish, and aggressive design makes for an imposing presence on road. Complementing the frontal fascia of the car is the trademark 'Tata' grille, large wrap-around clear lens headlamps, and flared fenders. The side indicators on the outside rear view mirror (ORVM) and the roof rails enhance the aggressive appeal of the car.
In the interior, the Xenon XT is packed with a host of exciting and functional features. Some of the key highlights of the car's interior are power steering, power windows, central locking, AC, and height adjustable seats. Other standard features of the car include cigarette lighter, 12V mobile charging point, spoiler on wiper blades, roof lamp, engine compartment lamp, ash tray, coin box, remote fuel lid opening, cup holders, and advanced car audio system. Furthermore, the charcoal grey accents in the interior add drama and expression to the ambience.
Along with this, the car incorporates safety features like an engine immobilizer, seat belt warning, and child safety locks. It also comes with as assortment of customizable features comprising of bed-liners, fog lamps, canopy, boot lid, and rollover bars.
Positioned as a lifestyle vehicle, contemporary styling and superior interior comfort become critical. The car manufacturer has met both these criteria and more by incorporating several luxury and comfort features available in cars today coupled with a powerful engine to win the hearts of both on-road and off-road enthusiasts.
