Tata Motors renames Zica as the Tiago

Three weeks after Tata Motors first announced that it would be renaming its Zica hatchback, the carmaker has officially called it the Tiago. The name Zica was withdrawn due to its similarity with the Zika virus which has recently affected thousands in South America.

Following the announcement, the company had launched an online contest where people could submit their choice of name for the small hatchback. The contest resulted in narrowing down onto three names – Civet, Adore and Tiago, of which the Tiago name has been finally given the green light.

The Tiago continues Tata’s brand reinvention in the passenger car segment, following heavily re-engineered models such as the Bolt hatchback and the Zest sedan. The model will slot in between the Bolt and Nano, effectively replacing the Indica eV2, in a segment dominated by Maruti and Hyundai with the Celerio and i10, respectively. Highlights of the upcoming Tata include a pair of all-new three-cylinder engines – petrol and diesel, a bold new design and a strong suit of features.

Tata Motors showcased the Tiago alongside its upcoming compact sedan sibling, codenamed Kite 5, at the 2016 Auto Expo earlier this month. The Kite 5 will slot in below the Zest as a smaller model and will feature a segment-defining feature – its 420-litre boot space. The sedan will share its mechanicals and feature list with the Tiago. This hatchback is expected to be launched in the coming months with its compact sedan sibling expected in the second half of 2016.