11.11Indigo GLX India, Indigo GLX Review
With the success of the Indica hatchback, Tata Engineering is launched its new Indigo sedan. Available with a choice of either 85bhp petrol or 63bhp turbo-diesel power, the new Indigo comes with a choice of trim options and with a pricing to grind the competition to despair. Early design sketches for the indigo almost entirely focused on getting the C-pillar treatment right along with the tail lamps and the boot detailing. From the final three short listed, the one on the extreme right was picked for production.
Tata Engineering also took the unheard of but crucial (and highly expensive) step of setting up a core test team in the UK and booking time at the famous MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) in the UK to hammer away for the better part of seven months in the areas of vehicle dynamics and low NVH levels. Clear lens headlamps stand out and lend a touch of distinctions to the now familiar smiling face front
The philosophy behind the Indigo was also to offer a pleasing look which fitted in well with the aspirations of the buyers in the lower C-segment of the car market. The look is pleasing in its simplicity but it could have done with some more flair. Compared to the Indica, the Indigo has a better, more planted presence when it is at standstill. Clever use of black on the B-pillars enhances the glasshouse effect while the neat rubbing strips on the sides add their own classy effect to go along with the rubbing strips on both bumpers.
The engineers have increased the wheelbase by 50mm to 2450mm so as to liberate even more usable room at the rear end, an area in which the Indica hatchback already was the class leader by far. Dimensionally, with an overall length of 4150mm and 1620mm width, the package is a compact one though the car sits tall at 1540mm. At the rear the tail lamps are distinctive and again there is a chromed strip on the boot lid above the recess for the number plate. So the overall style and treatment is a simple, safe yet effective one which should go well with the aspirations of buyers in the lower end of the C-segment.
The Indigo has the same McPherson strut front end as the Indica but of course the spring and damper ratings have been revised as have certain detail changes effected to the engine mounts. The choice of the 14-inch rubber is a welcome one for many reasons chief of which is to enhance the dynamic appeal wrought into the package by the suspension set-up and the steering gear. Tata Engineering offers 175/65-R14 radials as OE and the cars at roll-out featured tyres supplied by Bridgestone as well as MRF.
The petrol engine version’s cubic capacity remains constant at 1405cc; it has been re-chipped and recalibrated to now move up a notch to deliver increased power and torque. Much work went into efficient gas flow in the cylinder head and certain new coatings were tried out in this vein. A larger aluminium cored radiator cum oil cooler is employed. There is also a new resonator and a larger volume air box which helps in freer breathing and this has helped up the power to 83.8bhp (85PS) at 6000rpm. Torque is also hiked up to 110Nm (at 3000rpm). Compare these figures to the earlier 74bhp (75PS) version powering the Indica and you will see that the Indigo not only makes more power but also at a slightly higher rpm (6000rpm as against 5500rpm) which is always a good thing with petrol engines. Crucially, the torque output and the speed at which peak torque is developed remains the same on both versions.
The new turbo diesel can further this line of thought onto newer realms. The Tata 475 IDI 1405cc engine now benefits from the adoption of a turbocharger. Where the turbo diesel impresses is not in its slightly upped power output (62.75bhp at 5000rpm) but mainly in the way she has boosted torque from the naturally aspirated engine’s 85Nm at 2500rpm to a phenomenal 125Nm at the same engine speed. This is amazing because first off the engine displacement at 1405cc is small but the volumetric size notwithstanding the turbocharger really works up a strong delivery which makes the diesel-engine Indigo a very lively performer. Speaking of emission standards, the turbo diesel already meets the Bharat Stage III norms as does the petrol engine Indigo.
Both engines come mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Tata Engineering has revised the ratios in both to match the torque characteristics of their respective engines. Interestingly, both cars run the same 4.64 final drive ratio and the company has chosen fit to change the internal ratios for the different engines. Apart from getting the transmission right in terms of matched ratios to get the optimum in terms of performance, the company has also revised the gearshift quality.
It delivered 100 KMPH in 15.84sec. In the turbo diesel she takes just 6.99sec to sprint from rest to 60kmph as against the petrol engine version which does the same in 6.44sec. But from then on, the turbo diesel while not matching the zest of the petrol, does do very well to keep up manfully. Zero to 100kmph is achieved in 19.36sec while the quarter mile is achieved in 21.02sec. Thanks to its overall gearing, the Indigo TDI version works its way to a 153.7kmph top whack which is a very respectable performance on any count.
The Indigo has a 42-litre fuel tank and both engine versions are fairly capable of endowing it with an operating range that is mighty respectful. The petrol engine Indigo with its flexible torque spread was a delight, returning 10.8kmpl in actual city driving conditions while with a leaden foot during our performance testing this dipped down to the 8.8kmpl mark. On the regulation highway run the MPFI engine Indica returned 18.7kmpl which was largely on the dot for a car of its class.
The turbo diesel delivered 13.6 KMPL in-towns and on the highway the power of diesel came to the fore with a 24.3kmpl measure.
One of the most important attributes about the Indica was that it had class leading space in its cabin plus a seating position which was exceedingly comfortable. There seems to be a better flow in the cabin in terms of trims, colour coding, upholstery and textures, all of which make for a great feel good ambience.