Tata Tigor – Styleback styling explained

Tata Motors has been putting everything they have got in their arsenal with their cars these days. It initiated with the Zest and Bolt siblings, followed by the Tiago and now the Hexa. These cars are putting forward the new design language from the Mumbai-based manufacturer while leaving behind the dreary images of Tata cars of yesteryear.

Now Tata is gearing up to launch the Tiago-based sedan which was showcased as Kite 5 at the 2016 Auto Expo. The car is rechristened as the Tigor and will slot in above the Tiago in Tata’s hierarchy. Tata is terming the Tigor as a ‘Styleback’. Coining it a Styleback, Tata is looking to carve out a new segment of its own. Looking at the abrupt rear end of the Kite 5 and the recent design sketch of the Tigor, Tata seems to be exploiting the coupe stance with a sedan body and calling it a Styleback design.

The front of the Tigor will be carried forward from the Tiago hatch. But move along the side, it’s the sloping roofline flowing into the stubby and taller boot that defines the Styleback design. It lends the car a coupe-ish stance and benefits with a practical boot you can use. The Styleback shouldn’t be confused with the fastback or notchback body style. The former having a sloping roofline continuing all the way to the back, while the latter has a three-box style with boot opening similar to a hatchback. A particular example for the notchback is the Skoda Octavia or the Hyundai Accent Viva. 

It is still unsure how the Tigor will have the tailgate opening and how much boot space it will provide. But one thing’s for sure is that the Tigor will have one of the most distinct rear compared to the cars on sale in India. What remains to be seen is whether the styleback gimmick will be of any special consideration or whether it will be just a different looking sedan. Will the sloping roofline eat up the rear passenger headroom or the amount of boot space? Stay tuned to CarWale for all the developments on the new Tata Tigor.