True Comeback

As it continues to reclaim lost ground in the Indian market, Tata Motors’ latest compact sedan, the Tigor, targets the Goliath of its segment – the Maruti Suzuki DZire. So, can it really live up to folklore and slay the giant?

- Ishan Raghava

It’s a well-known fact that restoring a brand in the Indian market is no mean feat. And Tata Motors knows this well. Having whiled away two golden opportunities in the past, with the Indica and the Nano, the carmaker has made serious efforts to re-establish itself over the past few years. And, slowly, the brand has been gaining traction in the market – although there’s much more still to be done. Unfortunately, if you’re part of the Tata Motors’ resurgence team, you have not one, but two challenges to tackle. First is brand reputation, which needs to be completely revitalised. But, more importantly, in a fiercely competitive market, the products too need a major revamp.

The latest product of this on-going revamp operation is the Tigor. Targeted at the high volume sub-4m segment, the sedan is based on the same platform as the Tiago hatchback and shares its running gear. As far as the design goes, Tata’s design head Pratap Bose and his team have done a pretty good job with the Tigor. With a unique shape that’s somewhere between a large hatchback and a compact sedan, the Tigor does stand out with a unique rear-end design. And while it may not please enthusiasts of traditional design, the fact of the matter is that this unique design will make the Tigor a point of discussion for prospective customers. Another impressive aspect of the design is the detailing that’s gone into the car. There’s an impressive set of head and taillights, along with a full-length high-mounted stop lamp at the rear, which will be another differentiator for the car. However, some of the Tata quirks remain. Despite large 15-inch wheels, the car still looks under-tyred. On the flip side, this raised suspension means that there’s little chance of the car scraping its underbelly – even on the worst of our roads.