Tata Motors Ltd.
Marking 150th anniversary of the Tata Group, Tata Motors showcased a slew of products. With a stall spanning across 6000 sq. m, Tata Motors’ banked on thematic zones like ‘Smart Energy zone’, ‘Semi-urban zone’, ‘Sports zone’, ‘Inter and Intracity zone’, ‘Rising city zone’ and ‘Urban high density residential zone’. These were smartly segregated and targeted relevant customer base of the company.
Announcing a new design language for the entire portfolio, commercial vehicles included, the company zeroed on ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ architecture. It is a ground up architecture that demonstrates engineering prowess, strength and quality. The architecture is claimed to be an outcome of a radical new approach to design. It is thus light in weight, modular and flexible. It is also said to have an ability to give birth to a range of new vehicles in a short time span. Tata Motors unveiled an all-new ‘Tata Intra’ small commercial vehicle based on a new modular platform, and is designed with a passenger vehicle-like cabin. Said to offer superior driver comfort, the vehicle is powered by a 0.8-litre common rail diesel engine that produces 40 hp at 3750 rpm and 96 Nm torque at 1750-2500 rpm. The Intra has been engineered with scalable aggregates, and is BSVI ready. With a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 2150 kg, the Intra has a rated payload capacity of one-tonne. The Ultra T.7 light commercial vehicle Tata Motors displayed, is aimed at the sub seven-tonne goods segment. It features a 1.9 m wide cabin, and an all-new three-litre engine with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT). Churning out 123 hp at 2600 rpm, and 360 Nm of peak torque at 1400 rpm, the engine is mated to G400 AMT transmission with Optidrive developed by Wabco.
In the people mover category, the CV maker displayed a 12 m front-engine bus called the Magna. Developed in association with Marcopolo, the Magna
is a 16-tonne, two-axle fully-built coach that complies with the bus body code, and is aimed at inter-city travel. In the inter-city link zone, Tata Motors displayed Signa 4323.T, a 43-tonne six-axle rigid truck with a rated payload capacity of 30-tonnes. Aimed at applications across cement, industrial goods, cold chain, coal, FMCG and packed lubes segments, the truck hints at tonnage shifts and the growing needs of operators for superior performance, efficiency and reliability. Showcasing Prima 3718 with Haulmaax suspension system developed in association with Tata AutoComp Hendrickson Suspensions, Tata Motors provided a glimpse of new developments in haulage CVs. The advanced rubber based suspension system boasts of an extra wide bolster spring center and a progressive load spring in a bid to offer better stability and a smoother ride. It also reduces maintenance with fewer bushes and eliminates the need for frequent lubrication. Also displayed in the inter-city zone was a Prima 4930.S. The truck features Electronic Stability Control (ESC), lane departure warning system and an autonomous emergency braking system.
The smart energy zone showcased an extended range of electric vehicles. This included a electric 12 m Tata Starbus, Tata Magic and Tata Iris electric. Aimed at mass mobility and safe transportation, these people movers found much interest with the visitors. In the alternate fuel segment, the company showcased a Tata Ultra LNG model. Speaking on the sidelines, Girish Wagh, Head - Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, expressed, “There are routes in the country where there is a possibility of having LNG terminals, and this seems to be one area which can actually translate into huge demand.” Other than CVs, Tata Motors also showcased new generation four-cylinder diesel Turbotron engines of three and five-litre capacities. Keeping in mind the upcoming BSVI norms the engines can be scaled up.