Tata Indica Sport: The Sporty Edition That Never Came To Light

Indica, India’s first indigenous car that was built by Telco or as we know it now, Tata Motors is a well-known car for sure. But do you know or remember when Tata showcased a yellow Indica with the sport badging on it? Sadly, the power hatch never came to the production phase. Still, Tata did give us hope or should I say a glimpse of what we know the company for, today. Let’s go on a trip down memory lane and visit the year 2002.

2002 Auto Expo: Tata Showcases Indica Sport

Fiat had recently introduced the Palio GTX, the sportier version of the Palio hatch. Tata planned to show the nation that they were not only capable of building a totally indigenous car but also make it sportier. And so, a yellow-painted Indica with sporty body kit and ‘Sport’ badging was showcased. It was not just the looks that made the Indica capable of being called Sporty Hatchback. It packed under the hood was a 1.4-litre petrol engine capable of producing 85hp@6,000rpm and torque of 108Nm@3,000rpm.

For those who think the figures aren’t that impressive, the basic Tata Indica had a 60hp engine under the hood. Paired with the flashy colours, body kit and all-black interiors, Tata Indica Sport would have been a really good car at that time.

Would have been? Why was it not launched?

Well, Telco or Tata Motors was overwhelmed with the bookings for basic Indica. Around 1,15,000 customers booked the Indica in advance, all thanks to the ‘Never suffer from a small car again’ attitude. So Tata decided to delay the launch of the sports hatch. Eventually, the Indica sport was never able to enter the production phase. But don’t you think a sporty Indica would also have been a good choice? Do let us know in the comments section below about your thoughts. This Indica Sport would have been fun to drive and sharp to handle hatchback.

Also, read 5 Lesser-Know Indian Cars From The Past | Ever Heard Of The 5th One?

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