Reference Auto

Well, Tata Motors is breaching its own record in fuel efficiency, and in the latest launch, it has rightly timed the rollout of the most fuel-efficient version of the Indigo, the e-CS VX, which apparently offers 25 km/litre as per ARAI standards, an unprecedented milestone for any sedan.

Leave alone a sedan, even the compact hatchbacks cannot come close to such a feat (of 25 km/litre a litre). Consider this: the average sedan gives a mileage of 14 km to a litre while a compact hatchback could offer a slightly better fuel efficiency (of 18 km/litre).

Besides fuel efficiency, there is another feature that adds to the feather of the Indigo e-CS VX, that is, the price.

The Indigo e-CS VX, with the CR4 diesel engine, comes for Rs 5.80 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and the e-CS GVX, with an MPFi petrol engine, is priced at around Rs 5 lakh.

The e-CS VX is propelled by a 1,396 cc CR4 common rail diesel motor which produces 69 bhp at 4,000 rpm along with 14.2 kgm at 1,800-3,000 rpm.

One of the reasons for this fuel efficiency is its light weight, which has been possible, courtesy the latest technology. The overall weight of the car has been pruned by around 10 kg.

Also, there are enhancements made to the gear ratios, which also pave the way for making the e-CS highly fuel efficient.

The ECU is also different in the Indigo e-CS VX, which has been done to optimize it for more mileage.

The new Indigo e-CS VX is offered with dual-tone beige seating, a high-end wood-finish centre console, a new instrument cluster with chrome rings and rear centre arm rest.

Besides mechanical changes, there are some cosmetic modifications like redesigned wheel arches, a satin finish front grille and ORVMs with blinkers. The e-CS has 14” alloy wheels with low-rolling resistance tyres for enhanced efficiency.

While designing the e-CS VX, Tata Motors has kept in mind the following factors, which add to the convenience, such as keyless entry, ABS, Bluetooth connectivity and electrical controls for ORVMs.

The car has a warranty of 18 months. With a string of exciting features, the Indigo e-CS VX is a new trim liner in the Tata Indigo e-CS range, Tata Motors said.

Tata Indica as well as Indigo sales have been on a decline, but with these fuel-efficient light variants of the two cars, which come at highly affordable prices, Tata could make deep inroads into the sedan as well as the hatchback markets again.

This new e-CS VX will also give a fillip to the Indigo range of sedans, which come in a litany of models now.

In the wake of the current slowdown in the auto industry, buyers could find the Indigo e-CS VX as a viable option in view of its highly-efficient diesel engine (which is a cheap fuel and is the preferred choice in India) along with a slew of features and its attractive pricing.

So, it seems Tata Motors has timed the launch of the Indigo e-CS VX right.