Tata is almost ready with its Tiago hatchback-based compact sedan, which it internally calls the Kite 5. While the car’s official name will be revealed closer to its launch, a lot of its info is already out. Here are all the important bits.
On the Kite 5, designers have dropped the conventional sedan shape and given it a nice fastback roofline. It got a stubby, but neatly integrated boot, which is unlike the cars in its segment, usually featuring oddly proportioned rear ends. Another advantage the swooping roofline gives the Kite 5 are the bigger rear doors, which allow for better access to the rear seats.
Stylish design aside, the Kite 5 is also big on practicality. It’s got a 420-litre boot, which is the largest seen on a compact sedan; the title of the biggest boot thus far belongs to the Hyundai Xcent which gets a 407-litre boot. That said, the Xcent is more of a rival to the Tata Zest. But then, what does the Kite 5 get to take on?
Like the Tiago that’s positioned below the Bolt hatchback, the Kite 5 slots below the Zest, and hence will go unrivalled at the time of launch. However, this replacement to the Indigo CS will face competition from the upcoming Chevrolet Beat-based Essentia that’s likely to be launched in India by the end of 2017.
You’ll notice that there’s little that tells the Kite 5 from the Tiago till you go past the front doors. Not only does it share much of its styling and underpinnings with the hatchback, the Kite 5 will also get the same set of engines as the Tiago. These include a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.05-litre Revotorq diesel engines, both of which will come mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. There’s also news of an AMT gearbox that’s likely to be offered as an option on the Kite 5.
Like the Tiago, the Kite 5 is likely to be a value-for-money package. Along with all the equipment that the hatchback comes with, the sedan is likely to get features like a Harman-sourced touchscreen infotainment system, reverse camera, automatic climate control and a rear centre armrest on its top-end variant.
