Tata Motors, the country's largest automobile manufacturer, has launched a new powerful diesel variant of premium hatchback Indica Vista under the moniker- Quadrajet D90 in the domestic market on January 28, 2012. The company has pitched its Indica Vista D90 model in a direct face off against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift- the present best selling product in the premium hatchback segment of the Indian auto market. Further, Tata Motors has launched its Indica Vista Quadrajet D90 with an introductory price tag of Rs. 5.99 lakhs for VX model, whereas its ZX trim is offered with a retail value of Rs. 6.83 lakhs (all prices are ex-showroom, New Delhi).
In terms of exterior appearance, the newly launched Indica Vista Quadrajet D90 is not much different from its regular model, but sports an uber-cool black contrast roof and the D90 badging. The company has also added side skirts and rear spoiler, in order to add to the overall sporty quotient of the car. However, it is the interior trimmings that set Vista D90 apart from its direct competition and the premium hatch features its elder sibling Manza's stylish dashboard, automatic AC system, touch screen music system bundled with GPS and Bluetooth connectivity. Further, the Indica Vista Quadrajet D90 VX trim comes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) system, along with a trip computer.
Maruti Suzuki Swift is the undisputed champion of premium hatchback segment of Indian auto market, in terms of total sales recorded. Evidently, Swift is the sportiest of all its rivals and has been proclaimed both fun and easy to drive. The interiors are aesthetically pleasing and spacious, whereas the car's exterior looks have garnered their own fan following among domestic car enthusiasts. The Swift may not possess the cutting-edge features of Indica Vista Quadrajet D90, but certainly has the unparalleled brand value of Maruti Suzuki.
Coming to under-the-hood specifications of Tata Indica Vista Quadrajet D90, the premium hatch comes fitted with a 1.3 litre, 4-cylinder, Multijet engine, which churns out a peak power output of 88.8 bhp and a maximum torque delivery around 200 Nm. The same engine can also be found under-the-bonnet of Tata Manza Club Class sedan and Fiat Grande Punto 90Sport premium hatch.
On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki offers its diesel Swift VDI premium hatch at a retail price tag of Rs. 6 lakhs in the Indian passenger car market. The car comes assimilated with a 1.3 litre, 1,248 cc, 16-valve, DDiS powertrain in DOHC configuration, which churns out a peak power output of 74 bhp and a maximum torque delivery of 190 Nm. Evidently, in terms of engine power output and torque performance, the Tata Indica Vista Quadrajet D90 model has an edge over the segment leader Maruti Suzuki Swift premium hatch. Hence, it is going to be an interesting thing to see who wins the between Swift and Indica Vista Quadrajet D90 in the premium hatch segment of Indian passenger car market. The Tata hatch looks promising, besides with its competitive pricing, premium features and stylish looks could definitely lure domestic buyers to the company's retail outlets.
