Tata’s Kite hatchback spied testing again

The Tata Kite hatchback is expected to be launched in the second half of this year or early 2016. The test mule of this upcoming new hatchback was spied testing in Pune again, in a disguised avatar.

This test mule was completely camouflaged but looked in a better form in comparison to the test mules spotted on test earlier. The Kite hatchback is expected to be underpinned by an updated XO platform of the Indica. This new hatchback gets a tall-boy design like the other siblings, but uses a different desgn approach unlike the Indica. It will sport a new grille, restyled headlamps and tail lamps. The interior is expected to get a new layout for the cabin and feature the latest technology from Tata’s Horizonext strategy.

This Kite hatchback is expected to borrow the powertrain from its current siblings; however, there are speculations that the manufacturer might add a new three-cylinder petrol and diesel mill option for this new car. Transmission options will include the five-speed gearbox with the availability of an AMT for the diesel.

Tata’s new Kite hatchback will take up nearly all of the 2,50,000 units capacity installed at Tata's manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat along with its upcoming sibling – the Kite compact sedan. The Indica might be completely phased out then with the introduction of the Kite hatchback in the small car segment in India. It will go up against the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Datsun GO and the Chevrolet Spark when it goes on sale in our country.