The Tata Kite 5 sedan is based on the recently unveiled Zica hatchback. It will be made available in the market later this year and might be the Indigo CS’ replacement.
The fortunes of Tata Motors have not been in their best state lately. The homegrown car maker desperately needs a path-breaking product to bring in customers which continue to give all Tata cars a miss. Therefore, in order to stay relevant in an unforgiving market, Tata has entered for the second time in the sub 4-metre sedan segment by replacing the very car which started this segment. At the 2016 Auto Expo, Tata has taken the wraps off its Zica based compact sedan and has named it the Kite 5.
The new sedan is a very good looking and sports Tata’s new IMPACT design language through the smiley grille with the humanity line above it, circular fog lamps and swept back headlamps as seen previously on the Zica hatchback. The side profile is very Hyundai Verna-esque but looks extremely handsome. The boot integration is fantastic and it is definitely one of the better looking compact sedans in the market. The car is presented at the expo with 15-inch alloy wheels which fill the wheel-wells adequately. The rear of the car is also tastefully styled with elongated tail lamps and a chrome applique directly above the number plate housing.
The sub 4-metre sedan measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,647 mm in width, 1,535 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,450 mm. The car is propelled by the same engine options as the Zica – a 1.2-litre Revotron three-cylinder petrol engine which produces 85 PS of power and 114 NM of twisting force and a 1.05-litre Revotorq diesel engine whose output figures have not been revealed by Tata yet but it is expected to be same as that of the Zica hatchback. Both the Diesel and petrol engines are mated to 5-speed manual gearbox with the possibility of an AMT unit being announced soon.
The Kite 5 is kitted with a 5-inch screen infotainment system with eight speaker and integrated navigation unit. It also boasts of class leading boot space of 420-litres. The Kite 5 may replace the Indigo CS in the showroom floor. It will be priced lower than the Zest sedan thus giving it an immediate price advantage over its competitors.
2016 Tata Kite 5
– It sports Tata’s new IMPACT design language
– The Kite 5 is based on the upcoming Zica
– Powered by 1.2-litre Revotron and 1.05-litre Revotorq engines
