Tata Motors Showcases Philippine portfolio at MIAS 2016

MANILA: The 2016 Manila International Auto Show is currently underway at the World Trade Centre in the capital city of the Philippines, Manila. And at the country's biggest automotive expo, Indian car maker Tata Motors has displayed its set of cars, that are currently on sale in the country. Tata officials suggest that their product presence at MIAS will help the company gain traction in the Philippine market by enhancing the brand’s image in customer minds.

Tata Motors is a famous India-based car manufacturer, who also owns the Jaguar-Land Rover group. Tata currently has 4 models in its line-up in the passenger car segment in the Philippines, including the Indica, Vista, Indigo, and Manza. Though these cars aren’t really selling in good numbers in the country, Tata expects to convert enquiries at the booth at MIAS into actual sales.

Let’s look at what all is being offered at Tata Motors’ booth at MIAS 2016.

Tata Manza

The most important showcased product from Tata Motors at MIAS 2016 is the Tata Manza Sedan. This Tata sedan is powered by a 1.3-litre diesel engine, that exhales 90 PS of power and a peak torque of 200 Nm. In addition to the diesel variant, it also gets a 1.4-litre petrol option under its hood, that is rated at 90 PS and 116 Nm. Moreover, it gets a butch styling due to the presence of a protruding nose, massive swept-back headlamps with a three barrel layout, and a prominent chrome plate above the front grille. The side profile is a bit too plainly styled, with no eye-catching cuts and creases. A single harmony line runs across the length of the car. These massive plain metal parts cause the car to look a lot bulkier than it actually is. The interiors too are spacious, and can comfortably seat 5, while there is plenty of luggage space on offer as well.

Tata Vista

With the Manza placed at the stall, it was obvious that its hatchback sibling too will be accompanying it at MIAS. Hence, the Tata Vista hatch too has been showcased at MIAS. The Vista is basically the same car but in a hatchback avatar. The removal of the boot from the back gives the Vista a curvy, egg-like side profile, that might not attract a wide audience. But this design characteristic liberates enough headroom for back seat occupants, and also enhances the rear visibility from the driver seat. The Vista does get a smaller luggage area, but being scaled at 232 litres, it is surely not a deal breaker. The Vista is powered by the same 1.3-litre diesel and 1.4-litre petrol engines that underpin the Manza, but in the hatchback, they both are rated at 75 PS. These engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, that is mapped for better fuel economy.

Tata Indigo

Tata Motors was basically a commercial vehicle manufacturer, till it launched its small hatchback in 1998. The Indica too got a sedan sibling, christened as the Tata Indigo. This Tata Sedan has made its way to the manufacturer’s booth at the MIAS 2016. The Indigo has been designed as a budget-friendly sedan, mainly for taxi operators. It is powered by a 1.4-litre inline-4 engine, that is capable of developing 70 PS of power and 135 Nm torque while being mated to a 5-speed manual. Priced at PhP 525,000, the Tata Indigo is one of the most affordable sedans currently on offer in the Philippines.

Tata Xenon

The Xenon is a pickup from Tata motors, that is being claimed as one of the most rugged offerings in its segment. Slotted to compete in the highly crowded budget pickup segment, the Xenon does manage to offer a value for money deal, especially at prices starting from PhP 830,000. Talking about the Xenon’s Specs, it is powered by a 2.2-litre Euro-II Diesel engine, which churns out 150 PS of maximum power, and a peak torque of 320 Nm. This power mill is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, which transmits power to either the front wheels or all four wheels, depending on the variant chosen. The powertrain can propel the Tata pickup to a top speed of 160 kmph, which is quite respectable in its segment.

In addition to the aforementioned three passenger cars, Tata Motors also showcased the Tata Ace commercial pickup, which was dressed in a food vending avatar.

It remains to be seen whether Tata Motors decide to introduce their range of all-new products, which are currently making the company’s image in Indian car market thrive exponentially. The company has recently launched their all-new hatchback the Tata Tiago in India, which is also expected to touch the Philippine soil later this year.

Also Read: Tata Philippines Introduces Tata Indigo 2016 with Better Security Aspects