Tata Motors will showcase the much-awaited crossover vehicle Xover/Indicruz at the Indian Auto Expo in New Delhi this January. The vehicle, expected to be priced Rs. 6-8 lakh, will hit the markets in the first half of the 2010 and plug a vital gap in its portfolio.
Positioned to take on Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo and Chevrolet Tavera, the Xover with its three row of seats will attempt to blend the benefits of a family-friendly luxury tourer with the refined driving dynamics and visual cues of an activity-oriented sports utility vehicle.
This seven-seater vehicle will sport a new generation engine, navigation system, ABS and air bags among other enhancements. Created with extensive design inputs from London-based Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC), the concept vehicle was first showcased at the 75th Geneva Motor Show in 2005.
A decision to go ahead with the production was taken a couple of years later and the vehicle design fine-tuned . Vendors for supply of components were then tied up and prototypes readied for testing earlier this year. According to sources, extensive testing of the prototypes is currently underway in western India.
“Xover’s production variant will be ready for display at the Auto Expo in New Delhi,” said Nitin Seth, head of car product group, passenger car business unit at Tata Motors. While the vehicle will closely resemble the concept that was displayed at Geneva, the radical headlamp cluster of the concept could go for a more conventional set.
Source: Economic Times
