Carbole Umer Memon

Tata Motors’ 2018 Auto Expo stand were  hotted-up JTP versions of the Tiago hatchback and the Tigor compact sedan . The duo definitely got enthusiasts talking, and now the time has come for the launch of the Tiago JTP. Speaking at the launch of the Tiago NRG cross-hatch, Mayank Pareek, President (Passenger Vehicle Business Unit) at Tata Motors, confirmed a JTP model is part of the four launches Tata has scheduled for this festive season, and that it will be introduced in the market in the 'next eight weeks'. And while he avoided specifying which of the JTPs it would be, we can confirm that it will be the hatchback that will come first. Developed by Tata Motors in partnership with Coimbatore-based Jayem Auto, the Tiago JTP will sport a number of mechanical upgrades over the stock Tiago. Under its hood will be the 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine borrowed from the Nexon, with the intake and exhaust systems tweaked for improved performance. The...

Vietnam is getting into the vehicle manufacturing business with its own brand. Called Vinfast, the first two products from the newly established car company have been confirmed as a mid-size sedan and SUV. They will be presented to the public for the first time during October's 2018 Paris auto show. But rather than develop its own models, Vinfast has chosen to rebody existing cars for its first two products, in this case the previous-generation BMW 5-Series and X5. Italian design firms Italdesign and Pininfarina were hired to devise the new look for the vehicles, working closely with Vinfast design boss David Lyon. He's a former General Motors staffer, as is Vinfast CEO Jim DeLuca. In an interesting move, Vinfast gave the people of Vietnam the opportunity to determine the styling direction at the very start of the design process. More than 62,000 people voted when presented with 20 design sketches. Starting with Italdesign’s winning concepts, the cars’ desig...

Ford India has communicated that it plans to launch a new product on 4 October 2018. It's quite apparent that the company is talking about the 2018 Ford Aspire (facelift) to take on the latest generation Honda Amaze and Maruti Dzire, two cars that now regularly feature in the Top 10 sales list in the country The India-spec Ford Aspire has been remodelled on the lines of the  2018 Ford Ka+ , which is basically its export-spec version that is produced at the company's Gujarat plant. At its front, the refreshed Aspire carries a sleeker grille with a chrome finish. The bumper is new and looks sportier than the one it replaces with bold chrome embellishments around the foglamp enclosures. The only change in the side profile is the advent of new multi-spoke alloy wheels for the Titanium trim. The 15-inch wheels come shod with 195/55-spec tires. At the rear, the taillamps have been given a minor update, while the bumper looks a bit sportier owing to the faux air scoo...

Tata Motors has introduced the Tiago NRG in India as a tougher version to the standard hatchback. The Tata Tiago NRG is a cross-hatch and is priced from Rs. 5.5 lakh, going up to Rs. 6.32 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the range-topping version. Tata describes the Tiago NRG as an urban toughroader that gets a host of cosmetic upgrades and changes, while retaining the same underpinnings. The model will be taking on the Maruti Suzuki Celerio X in the segment, which is the sole rival for the NRG at present. The Tata Tiago NRG is taller, wider and longer than the standard hatchback, while the ground clearance has been increased to 180 mm. Styling additions on the model include black plastic cladding around the bumpers, side skirts and wheel arches. The rear bumper gets a faux skid plate and there are black finished roof rails. The car also comes with blacked out grille, ORVMs, roof mounted spoiler and cladding on the tailgate. The cabin also gets the black treatment to match the e...