Tata Motors that recently appointed Lionel Messi as the global brand ambassador for its passenger vehicles, has released a promotional TVC starring the Argentinian footballer striker. The video also teases the Tata’s upcoming compact hatchback – Kite (codename) which may be named as Tata Tiago – that will be unveiled in the first week of December, 2015. Set to rival the Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Hyundai Grand i10, the Tata Kite has been designed with the joint efforts of the company’s design studios in the UK, Italy and India. The production of the hatchback will take place at Tata Motors’ Gujarat plant. The company is also planning to export the India-made Kite to other Asian markets.
Powering the Tata Kite will be a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder Revotron petrol and a 1.05-litre, three-cylinder diesel engine that will be paired to a five-speed manual transmission. The former is the same engine that powers the Bolt hatchback and Zest compact sedan. The petrol unit produces a maximum power of 75bhp with 120Nm of torque, the oil burner offers 64bhp with 142Nm of torque. If reports are to be believed, the company might also offer the F-Tronic AMT (automated manual transmission) gearbox with the Kite hatchback, which is the same unit that comes with the Zest.
Tata’s new hatchback is built on the modified version of the XO platform, and features the company’s new HorizonNext design philosophy. The vehicle might be offered with features like a multi-function power steering with mounted audio and telephony controls, revised dashboard design, gearlever and power window switches, electronically adjustable ORVMs, six-speakers, 2-DIN music system, etc.
