All-new 2014 Tata Bolt- preview

Tata Motors India has unveiled the sporty and dynamic premium hatchback, Bolt which is intended to redefine the passenger car market in India. The new Bolt is set to usher in an all-new design philosophy, and as claimed by the company, it will offer segment-defining driving experience and high-tech infotainment system. There are three big highlights that Tata has implemented with the upcoming Bolt- DesignNext, DriveNext and ConnectNext. Tata's upcoming products are definitely made to exhibit technological advancement, be it with the interiors, engine or entertainment needs, all are going to be top notch. When it comes to the performance, as the name 'Bolt' signifies, the car has got best-in-class offerings for performance alongwith delivering impressive fuel efficiency. With the launch of Bolt in India, the hatch will directly compete against the likes of Hyundai Grand i10 and Maruti Swift. Well, looking at the names of competitors, it will certainly be not a cake walk for Tata's upcoming product in the passenger car segment. Tata has been keeping its audience on their toes in anticipation with the new Bolt's arrival. With expected launch by mid 2014, Tata Bolt prices are  expect to be priced in between Rs. 4-5 lakh (ex-showroom).

Design

Tata has come up with totally a new interpretation to the design language- DesignNext- that expresses an excellent combination of sleek, smart and dynamic styling. The new design launguage instills an image of the new Bolt being a sporty looking, and the compact size of the car would lure many Indian buyers. The fine lines and cuts as part of the design certainly accentuates the sporty appeal of the hatch. The new design rendering includes Tata's signature grille with the Humanity line, which is visually prominent line flowing into the headlamps, thus creating a unique identity for the brand. The flowing creases creates an illusionary effect of movement, and the overall exteriors exaggerates size to give the hatch a bulky look. Based on Tata Vista's X1 platform, the new Bolt is a complete new product to arrive soon. The front sports projector headlamps alongwith bezel fog lamps; also gets a floating roof spoiler that all-together defines Bolt's design.

Interior

As mentioned above, the new Bolt is certain to deliver new level of driving and a sense of belongings to the users from their own smart phones. The ConnectNext technology will not only cater to the entertainment needs, but also allows to control the deliverance of climatic needs and rest ergonomics. It also connects to the outside world with a simple touch. Concentrating on the connectivity need of the buyers, the company has collaborated with HARMAN for designing the infotainment and audio systems. Also clubbed with MapmyIndia to provide details of location based services and navigation needs.

There's a five-inch touchscreen display provided that supports multimedia, advanced Bluetooth technology, smart voice recognition, smartphone sync, phone enabled navigation and social media. The system also provides in-built HVAC controls, and is intended to offer car users to club their professional and personal lives into their commute and travel. This will constantly keep the driver connected to their family, friends and rest world. Coming to the safety aspect, Tata has taken care of this crucial feature providing EPAS( Electronic Power Assisted System), Active Return function ans speed sensitive power steering.

Engine

Under the hood, the new Bolt gets a turbocharged intercooled Multi point Fuel injected (MPFI) based on Revotron 1.2T petrol engine. The engine delivers max power output of 83bhp at 5000rpm and 140Nm of top torque between 1750-3500rpm. This highly efficient, refined and performance oriented engine is combined to a F-Tronic automated manual gearbox (AMT), which is first of its type in India. The next level of transmission is also expected to come along with further Tata products coming in future.

Verdict

Tata has undoubtely raised the bars and has come up with a fresh design, and next gen connectivity technology (ConnectNext) that will keep the driver connected with the outer world. However, as the manufacturer hasn't announced the pricing yet, so it is quite uncertian to comment that how the product will be received by masses. Though, if Tata will launch it with a competitive pricetag, somewhere near Grand i10's price, the Bolt certianly has potential to lure buyers. The inclusion of technologies like new F-Tronic transmission will also lure a certain group of buyers, who are looking for better automated cars. So, overall unlike other Tata hatches, the Bolt have better design, features and powertrains, making it a tough competition for its contemporaries.