Tata Bolt launched at Rs 4.4 lakh

ata has launched the Bolt in India starting at Rs 4.44 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the petrol variant, while the diesel variant starts at Rs 5.49 lakh. This is the homegrown carmaker’s second model, after the Zest sedan, from its HorizonNext product plan. It is built on the X1 platform like the Vista hatchback, but is thoroughly re-engineered, and shares most of its styling cues with the Zest. The Bolt is available in four trims - XE, XM, XMS and XT.

The Tata Bolt is available in both petrol and diesel guises. The petrol version uses the 89bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged Revotron motor that was seen first in the Zest. On the Bolt though, this engine has been tuned to make it smoother and more responsive. The diesel is the familiar 74bhp 1.3-litre Quadrajet that featured on the old Indica Vista and the base-model Zest. Both engines come mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, and unlike the Zest, there is no AMT automatic version, at least at launch.

On the inside, it carries over the same highly-improved cabin that the Zest introduced. Quality levels are up, while Tata’s traditional strength of great space is retained. Equipment levels are high; the top XT trim gets Harman touchscreen infotainment system, while the lower trims get a more conventional audio system. The touchscreen gets many class-first features like voice commands, video playback and satellite navigation. There's climate control and powered wing mirrors too. For safety, the Bolt gets dual front airbags and ABS with EBD and CSC (Corner Stability Control).

The Tata Bolt scores highly on space and equipment levels in its top trims, which are in the same league as premium hatchbacks like the Hyundai i20, Fiat Punto and Volkswagen Polo. Its pricing, however, is a little bit lower than those cars, which makes it a slightly better value proposition. What remains to be seen, however, is whether this vastly improved and more upmarket hatchback from Tata Motors can receive as good a response as its compact sedan sibling the Zest did.

Prices:

Petrol
XE - Rs 4.44 lakh
XM - Rs 5.15 lakh
XMS - Rs 5.40 lakh
XT - Rs 6.05 lakh

Diesel
XE - Rs 5.49 lakh
XM - Rs 6.11 lakh
XMS - Rs 6.34 lakh
XT - Rs 6.99 lakh

(all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi)

Comments

2018 Lamborghini Urus India review, test drive

On first introduction, it’s a recipe for intimidation. It’s claimed to be the fastest SUV in the world (0-100kph in 3.6sec and a top speed of 305kph puts it nearly in supercar territory), and it’s made by Lamborghini – creator of some of the most savage vehicles on the market. Things – as with any Lamborghini, for that matter – would be a lot less daunting if we were driving on a smooth European country road, a wide motorway, or even a race track. But today we’re driving the Urus on a narrow ghat road, as well as through some heavy Pune traffic. Perhaps the intention was to demonstrate that this is the first Lamborghini ever to go on sale in India that truly works in our conditions – but still, I doubt they accounted for rush hour. It’s requisitely mad to look at, employing as many ‘sporty’ design tropes to an SUV body style as possible – the only thing missing is a massive wing on the back; and somehow, it works. It’s ...

Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV in the works

Rolls Royce has released the first pictures of its Cullinan SUV prototype. The company has said that only the length of the prototype gives clues about the production. The entire car is an engineering mock-up to test the new all-wheel drive transmission and suspension. The prototype, based on a shortened Phantom II, is set for road testing from the second week of April. The company has said that it would “assist Rolls Royce engineers in developing a final suspension system that will deliver the brand's hallmark 'magic carpet' ride not only on the road, but off-road too”. Rolls Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Ötvös had, some time back, confirmed to our sister publication Autocar UK, that the company was developing an all-new four-wheel drive high-bodied Rolls Royce. He had, however, avoided using the word ‘SUV’. The new Rolls Royce is expected to shatter existing price and size ceilings for a SUV, but as per the brand's design boss Giles Taylor, the SUV will be po...

Land Rover Discovery Sport review

Two things. To start with, it’s Land Rover’s replacement for the popular and capable Freelander. It’s also the first of the models from Land Rover’s new Discovery sub-brand, one that will focus on utility in the same vein as the Range Rover line is about luxury. The Discovery Sport was shown as a concept last year and the production version’s styling doesn’t stray too far from the prototype. It’s smart, well proportioned and interesting but doesn’t have the show value of something like an Evoque. Still, there’s a certain honesty to the chunky shape which, if you think about it, more than links the Sport to the Freelander. The Sport is 91mm longer than its predecessor and also sits on a wheelbase that’s grown by 80mm. These increments, and the incorporation of a compact multi-link rear suspension, have allowed Land Rover to fit in a third row of seats, giving the Sport a big advantage over its five-seat competitors – the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. But Land Rover is being cau...

Automobilestillnow

Search This Blog