Tata not only showcased the Tiago hatchback at the 2016 Auto Expo but also debuted its near production ready compact sedan sibling codenamed the Kite 5. Now, the automaker has taken its upcoming offerings to a global stage with the Kite 5 making its international debut alongside the Hexa Tuff and the Tiago hatchback at the Geneva motor show this year.
The Kite 5 shares its mechanicals and styling with its hatchback sibling, with the additional boot being the only differentiator. This means that it derives power from the same 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine and the 1.05-litre, three-cylinder diesel mill offered on the hatchback. Both engines come mated to a five-speed manual transmission, and will be later available with an AMT gearbox.
Equipment levels are also on par with the hatchback, meaning the it gets ABS, dual front airbags, corner stability control, alloy wheels, fog lamps, a Harman-sourced audio system with USB, aux and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the USP of the Kite 5 will be its 420-litre boot, which is the largest in its class.
Tata will slot the Kite 5 below its Zest and is likely to remain unrivalled at the time of launch. However, the production version of Chevrolet’s recently unveiled Beat-based compact sedan concept will compete with the Kite 5, when it launches later in 2017.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
