The Tata ‘Kite’ hatchback and compact sedan were spotted testing late last year, with the company saying that the hatchback version could be expected sometime in 2015 with the sedan to follow suit. It was clear even from the heavily camouflage that the cars' styling was all-new and not constrained like with the Zest and Bolt.
Unlike the current Zest sedan and Bolt hatchback which are heavily reworked versions of the Manza sedan and Vista hatchback, the new ‘Kite 4’ compact hatchback and ‘Kite 5’ sedan have been designed from the ground up.
Designed by Tata’s European Technical Centre (TMETC), the new compact hatchback and sedan get all-new styling with tapering roof-lines and rising window lines and bears no relation to any of Tata’s previous models. The sedan also gets additional chrome trim to give it a more upmarket look. The chassis, based on the Indica’s XO platform is also heavily reworked to improve refinement and rigidity, with the only similarities being the engine firewall and pedal box.
Mechanically, the ‘Kite 4’ and ‘Kite 5’ will get the new Electric Power Steering from the Zest and Bolt along with a completely reworked suspension, as compared to the old Indica’s all-independent set-up.
Inside, the ‘Kite’ will continue to offer a spacious interior — a standard with all Tata cars — along with shared parts from its other sibling to keep costs down. It will likely get the steering and control stalks from the Zest and Bolt, in addition to other components.
Under the hood, the new-generation compact hatchback and sedan get new engines. Power is derived from a 1.05-litre diesel engine from the Manza Hybrid Concept showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo. A re-engineered three-cylinder version of the 1.4-litre DiCOR, this new engine incorporates counter-balancing shafts, a stiffer block and reduced friction to reduce noise and vibrations while still generating around 70bhp. The petrol engine set to be offered is an all-new 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit which may also carry the ‘Revotron’ name. The new Revotron, unlike the current engine, uses an aluminium block and four valves per cylinder in place of the cast-iron block and two valves per cylinder. The new engine is expected to generate about 75bhp. The current Revotron motor will likely get a boost in power to make differentiation easier.
The ‘Kite 4’ hatchback will replace the Indica eV2 and rival the Maruti Celerio and Wagon R in the market, while the ‘Kite 5’ compact sedan will be priced just below the Zest in the sub-four metre sedan segment.