Tata Aria price above Rs 12 lakhs

Tata Aria, the ‘crossover’ MPV is nearing its launch

Aria, the new MPV from Tata, is all set to debut. The car has been eagerly awaited for by many ever since it was first showcased as a  concept at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. It was also a showstopper at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2010 (Tata Aria at Auto Expo 2010)  The showcasing of the Aria at the New Delhi Expo was a result of the Tatas’ plan to create the same buzz as it had in the 2008 Auto Expo with the Nano.

The Aria has been designed to comfortably seat seven passengers in three rows. The car sits comfortably on a special ladder-frame chassis that has been created by a unique process called hydro-forming. Equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, the Tata Aria MPV comes powered by a 2.2 L Direct Injection Common Rail (DiCOR) diesel engine capable of producing 141.94 PS of power and 320 Nm torque. The Aria is capable of reaching top speeds of up to 152 kmph.

With its expected market price ranging between Rs 12 lakh to Rs 14 lakh, the Tata Aria is in a class all of its own. The nearest competitor, Toyota Innova, is priced quite a bit lower than the Aria.

Tata plans to introduce three variants of the Aria in the market, with both full-time four-wheel drives or all-wheel drive (AWD) and a two-wheel drive. However, the company’s is still undecided on which variant it should first bring to the market. With the Aria being the first of its kind from the Tata stables, the company plans to burst into the segment and gain the first-mover advantage.

The Tata Aria is an all-new class of vehicle from the company, and they have made it clear that this MPV would be sold in international markets too.

Tata had showcased two other vehicles which were new to their respective segments during the New Delhi Auto Expo. The Venture, a small MPV that runs on diesel, is likely to be targeted at B and C segment towns. A modified version of the Ace Magic called the Magic Iris, with four doors and a rear-mounted engine, was also displayed at the Expo. Built with unique features like Velcro-fastened windows, the Magic Iris is also targeted at small towns.

The Tata Nano has been in the news recently as it caught fire on a few occasions, the reasons for which are still unclear.