Tata Motors unveiled a spruced up version of its Aria crossover at the Geneva Motor Show to gauge customer response for the European market. However, the updated Aria which features a host of cosmetic enhancements, a more powerful engine and automatic transmission is likely to be first launched in India in the second half of this year.
The show Aria’s cosmetic upgrades include a two-tone paint job, headlamps with black inserts, daytime running lights, new tail lamp inserts, new 19-inch alloys (which fill the wheel arches quite well) and leather seats. The talking point however is the uprated engine and automatic transmission, which is a first in a Tata car.
The 2.2 litreDicor engine gets a new turbocharger and tweaks to the engine ECU which has resulted in a significant step up in power from 138bhp to 158bhp. There’s a bigger jump in peak torque from 32.63kgm to a whopping 40.78kgm.
A new set of gearboxes have been developed to cope with the increased power and torque. On display at the Geneva Show in the Aria was Tata’s first automatic transmission – a GM sourced, six-speed automatic transmission with gear ratios optimised for the Safari. There’s also a six-speed manual transmission available for the more powerful Aria.
The increased power and torque along with the automatic transmission will make the Aria an far more easier car to drive and Tata is hoping that this will bring in customers who have largely ignored Tata’s flagship.
Only 821 Arias were sold across the April 2012- January 2013 period compared to rival Mahindra selling around 38,000 units of its XUV500.
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