In the run up to the Auto Expo, Tata Motors has taken the wraps off two new models – the Bolt hatchback (internally called Falcon 4) and the Zest compact saloon (Falcon 5). The introductions are part of Tata Motor’s large-scale plans to inject desirability into its product range.

The two cars, the company says, is the result of collaborative design inputs from three Tata Motors design studios in Pune, Coventry (UK) and Turin (Italy). Speaking at the launch today, Ranjit Yadav, president, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, said: “We are delighted to showcase the much-awaited next-generation cars –  the Zest compact saloon and the Bolt hatchback. These cars have been engineered for global market, through global teams across India, UK and Korea to set new standards in their respective segments. These cars are a true representation of our Horizonext, with best-in-class offer for performance that yet offers economy and efficiency.”

The Bolt and Zest are built on a thoroughly updated version of the Tata Vista’s X1 platform. However, Tata has really made a huge effort to ensure these cars are not considered mere facelifts, but all-new cars.

Comprehensive sheet metal changes and new body panels make the Bolt look very different from the existing Vista. The Bolt’s glasshouse which has been carried forward unchanged is the only real link to the older car’s design. Frontal styling is aggressive with a heavily sculpted front bumper, new grille, and sharper headlamps. The rear gets blacked out C-pillars, but the big news though is the departure from the tall, vertically stacked tail-lights which is the original Indica signature, to a more conventional wing-shaped design.  

It’s also at the tail where the Bolt differs from the Zest – the two cars are near-identical up till the rear doors, although the saloon comes with day-time running lights at the front, which the hatchback misses. The Zest is a compact saloon with its length less than four metres long, qualifying it as a small car. However, the silhouette is not as clean as, say a Honda Amaze, and the stubby boot makes the tall Zest look slightly disproportionate. The X1 platform’s high firewall between the engine and passenger cell is sure to have limited Tata designer’s flexibility with the overall design. For their part, however, the LED-equipped tail-lights do look handsome and rather well integrated.  

In keeping with their new car tags, the Bolt and Zest also get thoroughly revised interiors. The dashboard is all-new and uses a dual-tone colour scheme. The seats are also new and, along with the massive space on offer, promise much improved comfort. Both cars will feature new infotainment and connectivity systems that have been developed in collaboration with Harman, and feature voice controls, a touchscreen interface and MapMyIndia satellite navigation.

Another area where Tata has worked hard is in the ride and handling department. The suspension has been reworked for better bump absorption and also to make it quieter. Another big change is the adoption of an electric power steering that comes in place of the Vista’s hydraulic unit. The EPS system, developed by ZF, is said to improve ease of use and should also bring with it small gains in efficiency.

Expect the biggest gains in efficiency to come via Tata’s indigenously-developed 1.2-litre Revotron turbo-petrol that will make its debut on the Bolt and Zest. The four-cylinder motor develops 83.8bhp at 5000rpm and 14.3kgm at 1750-3500rpm and has been tuned for maximum fuel efficiency. The other engine on offer will be the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. Another big piece of news is that the new Tata Zest diesel will get an automated manual transmission (AMT), dubbed F-tronic, and this could possibly become the most affordable diesel automatic car in the country.

The Bolt and Zest will be displayed at the Auto Expo and are scheduled to go on sale in the second half of 2014. Prices have not been announced as yet but knowing Tata’s seriousness to improve sales expect the cars to be priced competitively.