Tata Zica pictures surface before unveil!

Update: Tata has showcased the entry level hatchback Zica aka Tiago at the 2016 Auto Expo that will take on other popular hatchbacks in the country including Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Hyundai i10. Audiences may not have to wait too long to get their hands on the newly launched hatchback with its release scheduled in two weeks. With company’s very own ConnectNext infotainment system, segment first 8 speaker system and alternatives for diesel and naturally aspirated motor, Tata Zica looks pretty strong to make a big impact. Check out the Auto Expo reveal, image gallery and more.

Fresh pictures of the anticipated Tata hatch have surfaced, giving us a good look at what the car will look like. The Zica is a clear departure in terms of design from the decade old Indica.

Up front, there's a droopy nose housing a large grille flanked by smoked headlamps. There's plenty of chrome on the face of the Tata Tiago - a dab of which underlines the grille. More chrome finds its way into the headlamps and outlines the foglamps as well. The bumper and the bonnet get some power bulges, giving the Zica a slightly aggressive face. 

The side shows off a distinct shoulder line that runs from the front quarter panel and ends into the taillamp. While this reminds us of the Brio at first glance, we'd really like to take a better look to confirm the same. The doors and the large windows take up most of the real estate on the side profile. A couple of things that caught our attention were the thin C-Pillar, the blacked out B-Pillar and integrated indicators on the wing mirrors which are borrowed from the Zest/Bolt.

The car in the pictures is definitely a top-spec variant, as is evident from the presence of alloy wheels, rear-defogger,  and parking sensors as well. The rear houses flattish tail-lamps that might remind you of the Ford Figo. Two character lines run across the length of the boot to add some flair to the rear. The recess on the bumper that houses the number plate appears to be finished in black. The Zica gets an integrated spoiler that houses a high mount stop lamp as well.

As far as the interiors go, the Zica is all set to get a interior finished in black and beige, with chrome used to highlight certain bits like the door handles. We can expect a Harman Kardon system with four speakers in the top-spec variant.

The Zica will feature a petrol and a diesel motor. The petrol motor will be a new 1.2 litre unit developed ground up for the hatch rated at 84 bhp and 110Nm. The diesel mill is expected to be a 1.0 litre unit (derived from the old 1.4 motor that powers the Indica currently) that develops 67 bhp and 140Nm.

The Zica has its work cut out for it, battling segment heavyweights like the Maruti WagonR and the Hyundai Grand i10. I'll go out on a limb and say this is the best design on a Tata hatchback yet and it does look very very promising. The global unveil is within a week and we will see it hit the showroom floors early next year. 

Watch First Drive of Tata Zica

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Image courtesy: autosarena.com