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Tata Motors launches Zest: From price to looks, all you ever wanted to know

Tata Motors Zest launch adds more rivalry in segment.

Tata Motors has launched the much awaited compact sedan Zest at a base price of Rs 4.64 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Jointly designed with inputs from their studios in Coventry and Pune, Zest is a startling change over previous cars.

The launch of new Zest sedan also marks the rise of stern competition in the segment where Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze and Hyundai Xcent are already fascinating the masses. Tata Motors has launched Zest in four petrol and five diesel variants.

The exteriors are where the Zest has improved the general impression of Tata Motors cars. The front grille is simple and elegant. The bone line flows elegantly along the side of the car bearing the door handles and merging with the tail lamps. The seam of the headlights forms a border that is shared with the bonnet. The headlights in question are no ordinary headlights either, they?re class leading projector headlamps. The side rear view mirrors also receive indicator lamps giving it that extra bit of oomph while it gets 15-inch alloy wheels as standard across all the variants. The backend is simple as well, with a clear priority to form follows function design with a touch of style. Tata Zest is available in Buzz Blue, Pristine White, Dune Beige, Platinum Silver, Sky Grey and Venetian Red color options.

Coming to the interiors, Tata Motors has made a clear effort to provide quality. The Zest boasts of a three spoke steering wheel reminiscent of the Honda Civic of yesteryears. The dashboard quality has improved significantly over the past cars that they’ve made, and the seats look a lot more modern as well. Dual tone interiors suit the car?s character well. The instrument panel is simple but informative and the components of the displays are spaced out generously apart offering a clear vision of the meters. ?There is also a five inch Harman touch screen informative system with voice inputs and latest connecting options, and even an SD card port, all these uses the new ?CONNECTNEXT? technology by Tata. The music system is compatible with USB, Aux-In and iPOD as well. The top models also gets AC with temperature control feature and rear parking sensors. abs

The petrol Zest features a 1.2 liter Multi Point Fuel Injected, Turbocharged Revotron engine. The engine itself has generated a lot of buzz over the internet and TV, with Tata claiming that it has technology that can react to the driving style and need based on the input. ?The maximum power of this engine is rated at 88.8 BHP with torque figures hovering about 140 NM. This power is fed to a five-speed manual gear box. Also newly featured, is the Multi mode drive option, that has three settings namely Sports, City, and Eco. The eco mode is optimized for fuel savings, whereas the Sports mode puts the focus away from fuel economy to a performance-oriented mode resulting in faster acceleration. The city mode can take over when you?re using the Zest for getting to work and back, or for trips to the mall, which will involve everything from small cruises to bumper- to-bumper traffic. This change in Economy Vs. Performance works using pre-defined ECU maps that are engaged depending upon the settings chosen. Top models gets ABS and dual side airbags as well.

The Diesel Zest gets a turbocharged 1.3 liter Fiat QuadraJet engine in two state of tunes; producing 74bhp and 88.8 bhp of power and a respectable 200 NM of torque putting Zest neck and neck in the competition. ?The engine is mated to a manual five -speed gearbox with a segment first F-Tronic Automated-manual gear box. This system first debuted in Maruti Suzuki Celerio in India, which has been a resounding success for people struggling with manual shifting, making the car easy to drive while being economic and fun to drive, is able to overtake vehicles when the situation demands it. The technology basically works based with an electronic control unit and hydraulic system that supervises the use of clutch and gear shifting, allowing the driver to change gear without using a manual clutch, this can be done sequentially or fully automatically. Road-cars have borrowed this technology from F-1 cars, for which this system was originally developed. Being diesel powered, it becomes the first to use this technology in the country. The diesel engine also comes with a variable geometry turbocharger.?

The top petrol variant comes at a price of Rs 5.99 lakh. Base diesel variant starts at Rs 5.64 lakhs while the top end diesel variant can be owned by paying Rs 6.99 lakh, all priced (ex-showroom, New Delhi). With a number of firsts in segment options, it isn?t coming to the party empty handed. It would certainly repeat the success of its sibling Tata Indigo in the Indian market.

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First published on: 12-08-2014 at 17:27 IST
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