Tata Motors has officially revealed its new hatchback - the Zica. The Tata Zica will be offered in petrol as well as diesel trims. The petrol is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine (85bhp, 114Nm) based on the four-cylinder Revotron from the Zest. The diesel meanwhile, is a new 1.05-litre three-cylinder unit that makes 70bhp of max power and 140Nm of peak torque. This essentially is the downsized version of the Indica's 1.4-litre diesel powerplant. Both these engine options feature the Multi Drive feature from the Bolt and the Zest. The transmission options include the conventional five-speed gearbox and Tata has confirmed that the AMT gearbox will also be offered at a later stage.
Inside, the dashboard layout is similar to the one in the Bolt hatchback and the cabin is equipped with premium fabric. The car's interior boasts of 22 utility spaces and a Harman infotainment system connected to an eight speaker surround sound system. The top-of-the-line variant gets steering mounted controls, bluetooth connectivity and smartphone enabled navigation for Android phones. Tata Motors has also introduced the first in segment Juke car app. On the safety front, the Tata Zica gets dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, driver seatbelt reminder and rear parking sensors with display on the infotainment screen.
Based on the brand's HorizonNext design philosophy, the Tata Zica is a modern car with promising looks. The manufacturer has also added practical features and upped the safety quotient with an energy absorbing body structure. The hatchback is expected to be launched in mid-January 2016 and will compete with the Maruti Suzuki Celerio and the Chevrolet Beat. The pricing for the Tata Zica should begin at Rs 3.5 lakh.
