Tata Motors plans to go upmarket with the launch of its first ever crossover vehicle, the Aria. To be launched on October 11, 2010, Aria will be available on sale through all major cities and towns in India. First shown as a concept at the 75th Geneva Motor Show in 2005 and in the New Delhi Auto Expo 2006, the Tata Aria was unveiled at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January 2010.
Aria is the first product in 22 years to be built on a brand new ladder-frame chassis, which will underpin future generations of Safaris, Sumos and pick-ups. Although the crossover will be longer and wider than the Safari, Tata has managed to bring down the overall weight by 200kg – thanks to the new and lighter chassis.
It will be powered by the same 2.2-liter DiCOR engine that powers the Safari with an identical 140bhp power output. The gearbox too has been carried over from the Safari, but with the help of few updates the shift actions are now better.
The Aria brings together the luxury and finesse of a sedan and the muscle of an SUV at a commensurate price (Rs 12-14lakh estimated). It will set several benchmarks, with its design, technologies, comfort and safety.
The Tata Aria’s development started in 2006. A team of over 150 individuals, comprising multi-discipline specialists from the Tata Motors Group and vendor-partners, worked on the project to create this segment-defining crossover.
(Excerpts from Autocar India, March 2010 issue)