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The Tata Indica (from "Indian Car") is a B-segment car launched by the Indian manufacturer Tata Motors in 1998. It was the first Indian hatchback with a diesel engine. It was the first passenger hatchback from Tata Motors, with previous models being station wagons and SUVs.
Indica is also considered one of India's indigenously developed passenger cars, though not the first. , more than 9.1 lakh units had been produced and the platform had spawned close to 12 lakh (1.2 million) vehicles. Annual sales of Indica were as high as 1,44,690 units in 2006–2007. , monthly sales of Indica were around 8,000 units. The models were also exported to and countries from late 2004. The car was discontinued in April 2018.
Partly designed and developed by Tata Motors, it was a five-door compact car hatchback with a 1.4-L petrol/diesel fuel inline-four engine designated internally as 475DL. This was a homegrown engine derived from the engine used by Tata in their line of pick-ups and SUVs earlier, but with a shortened stroke. The original engine was designated as 483DL which stood for four-cylinder and 83-mm stroke.
The Indica offered options such as air conditioning and electric windows, which were previously restricted to upmarket imported cars in India. Three years later, the Indica was exported to European markets for the first time, and from 2003, the Indica was badge engineered and sold in the United Kingdom by MG Rover Group as the Rover CityRover. This vehicle ceased production in April 2005 when Rover went bankrupt, and did not resume production when Rover's new Chinese owner Nanjing Automobile launched its own versions of the Rover range in 2007.
The outer body styling was designed by the Italian design house I.DE.A Institute, under contract from Tata Motors, in close collaboration interaction with Tata's in-house design team. The engine, however, was indigenous.
When first launched, the Indica prompted many complaints from early purchasers, who claimed that the vehicle did not deliver horsepower and mileage as promised. In response to the customer complaints, Tata Motors re-engineered the internals of the car and launched it as Indica V2 (version 2), which solved most of the complaints and emerged as one of the most sought-after cars in the Indian automobile industry. Later, it was again updated, now marketed as the "Refreshingly New Indica V2". This was followed by the next variant of Indica, current in early 2008, called the Indica V2 Xeta Petrol, which delivers of power at a fuel efficiency of 14 km/L (about 33 mpg U.S., fuel consumption of 7.1 L/100 km) under standard test conditions. In Indian city conditions, fuel economy can drop to about 10 km/L (about 23.5 mpg U.S., 10 L/100 km).
Since the V1 and V2, which were visually identical, Tata had applied styling updates to the Indica in 2004, 2007 and 2012
In India, three versions were available with different trim levels.
Originally offered with 1.4-L petrol and diesel engines, a turbocharged diesel engine was introduced in October 2005; a 1.2-L petrol engine in November 2006, and a Common rail (Dicor) diesel version of Indica V2 was launched in January 2008. It features 16 valves, double overhead , a variable geometry turbocharger, and an intercooler. The top-end GLG, GLX, DLG, DLX versions and the turbo and DiCOR diesel engines, as well as the 1.4-L petrol engines have been phased out with the introduction of the next-generation Indica Vista. The turbocharged engine was reintroduced in August 2010 as the turbomax in the DLE and DLS trim levels in metros where BS IV norms were introduced. Later in March 2011, the Indica eV2 was launched with a 'CR4' engine similar to the earlier DiCor engine with features like Auto-Drive Assist and Clutch-To-Start and claims a class-leading ARAI mileage of 25 km/Lhttp://auto-india.co.in/tata-indica-dicor-will-be-india%E2%80%99s-most-fuel-efficient-car/
A compressed natural gas (CNG) was launched in 2001. It is offered as an option through OEM Bedini kits offered by Shrimanker Gas Services India on the Indica V2 XETA.
Faced with numerous CNG-related complaints, Tata organised a systematic recall and retrofit of Bedini equipment which included a new improved lambda sensor/electronic control unit, Bedini emulator, and new wiring harness approved and tested by both Tata and Automotive Research Association of India from 28 to 31 May 2007. With the new system, Tata aimed to improve gas delivery and performance.
In its home market, the Indica offers good interior capacity and competes with the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Maruti Wagon-R and Maruti Alto. The diesel versions, however, have little or no competition since few diesel cars exist in the Indica's price bracket.
The slightly higher-than-average net weight makes for a slightly more comfortable ride compared to lighter cars. Fit and finish continue be criticised compared to offerings from Fiat and Maruti.
In the United Kingdom, a badge-engineered version was imported by the MG Rover Group and sold as the Rover CityRover from 2003 until the bankruptcy of MG Rover in 2005. Other popular foreign markets include South Africa where the Indica and the Indicab models (known as B Line) are sold.
The Indica platform spawned a number of variants, including the Tata Indigo three-box saloon which includes the shorter Indigo CS, long-wheelbase XL, and the Indigo Marina estate.
This range of accessories was available for the Indica:
Vista D90 VX
The Vista D90 VX is the low-end variant out of these two and comes equipped with electric ORVMs, front and rear fog lamps, intelligent rear wiper, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, front and rear power outlets, a double-DIN stereo with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, dual tone interiors, fabric seat covers, a driver aligned instrument cluster, a Driver Information System (DIS) with average fuel consumption and distance to empty display and a two-way adjustable lumbar support for the driver.
Vista D90 ZX+
It is the new top-of-the-line variant of the Vista and features a new touch-screen infotainment system with satellite navigation, the new Driver Information System (DIS) that gets a temperature gauge, an automatic climate control system, front airbags, follow-me-home headlamps, an LED stop lamp, one-touch function for the driver's power window and alloy wheels besides the features offered on Vista D90 VX.
| Top speed | – |
| 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) | – |
| Engine Type | 1.4L, MPFI, Safire Petrol engine |
| Displacement | |
| Power | @ 6000 rpm |
| Torque | @4750 rpm |
| Valve Mechanism | – |
| Cylinder Configuration | Inline 4 |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Fuel System | MPFI |
| Minimum Turning Radius | – |
| Wheelsize | |
| Tyres | 175 / 65 R14 (tubeless) |
| Ground Clearance | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
The car is powered by a 55 kW Permanent-magnet electric motor and a 26.5 kWh Lithium Polymer battery.
In 2009, the company indicated that the electric Indica would be launched locally in India in approximately 2010, without disclosing the price. The vehicle was to have been launched in Norway in 2009 and also in continental Europe and the UK.http://www.autonews.com/article/20090304/ANE02/903049987/1193
In 2009, the UK's government (Business Secretary Lord Mandelson) has announced a £10 (€11.09) million loan to Tata to support the manufacturing of electric vehicles in the UK.
In 2010, Tata Motors' UK subsidiary, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, bought a 50.3% holding in electric vehicle technology firm Miljø Grenland/Innovasjon of Norway for US$1.93 M, which specialises in the development of innovative solutions for electric vehicles, and plans to launch the electric Indica hatchback in Europe in 2010. Electrovaya is partnering with Tata Motors and Miljø Grenland/Innovasjon to manufacture batteries and electric cars using Electrovaya's Lithium Ion SuperPolymer battery technology.
The Indica Vista EV has a range on a full charge and a top speed of . With 0 to in less than 10 seconds. To achieve this, TM4 Electrodynamic systems (a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec) provided its efficient MOTIVE series electric motor.
The Tata Indica Vista EVX was withdrawn from the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, in the third round of four.
Tata Motors began production of 25 units for field testing purposes at its U.K. assembly plant in Coventry in April 2011. These models were allocated to the CABLED trial that began in the West Midlands in April 2011. The market launch in the UK was scheduled for mid 2011 but it was postponed in May 2012. The field testing will continue with Tata employees. The Indica Vista EV was expected to be priced at before the Plug-in Car Grant. The Indica Vista EV range is . The price is under in Spain. Unfortunately the vehicle has not commercially launched.
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