The 10 most important cars of the Indian automotive industry.
10. Mahindra Scorpio
One of the highest selling SUVs in our country, the Mahindra Scorpio is easily among the most recognizable SUVs on our roads. The SUV was the first-ever in-house vehicle from the Indian manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra. Worked on by a team of only 23 engineers, the Scorpio was born on the 50th anniversary of the company in the year 2002. What really stood about the vehicle was its shocking starting price of Rs. 5.5 lakhs. The original 2.6-litre SZ2600 turbocharged diesel engine made a healthy 109 PS and 250 Nm of torque.
9. Tata Indica
Branded as India’s first fully indigenous passenger car, Tata Indica became an absolute sensation in the country with a staggering 1,00,000 bookings in the first 24 hours of its launch. The chairman of Tata Sons, Mr. Ratan Tata gave these famous lines “Indica will have dimensions of a Maruti Zen, the cabin size of an Ambassador and the fuel efficiency of a Maruti 800.” In a way, the Tata Indica revived Tata Motors and established them as a solid brand in passenger cars. It was marketed as ‘coming of age car’ for India.
8.Tata Sumo
The name Sumo is the result of the amalgamation of the former MD of Tata Motors, Mr. Sumant Moolgaokar. The iconic MPV became one of the best-known vehicles around during its era with the honor of being one of the first passenger vehicles ever, to be designed and developed in India. Tata Sumo had the formula which was tried and tested over the years. More than just a MUV, Sumo provided a sensation of being the boss of the roads with its tall height and upright positioning. Presently the MUV has a new name of Movus and is powered by a 2.2-litre VARICOR unit that churns out 118 PS and 250 Nm of torque.
7. Tata Safari
Talking about SUVs how can we forget to mention one of the most important SUVs of India, our first premium SUV, the Tata Safari. Launched in the year 1998, the Safari took the market by storm due to its USP of space, decent off-roading capabilities and a bold masculine stance. Despite being launched at a price of Rs. 8.25 lakhs, and being on the expensive side of the pricing, it found many takers who were willing to pay for a comfortable ride and liked its robust looks. As the Ambassador, Safari has also been a favorite amongst many politicians and is to date used as an escort vehicle in our Prime minister’s and President’s convoy. Currently, the Storme variant of the iconic SUV is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that pumps out 156 PS and 400 Nm of torque in the top-spec form.
6. Maruti Gypsy
The classic SUV of the ’90s that defined the term cool’, long before SUVs became popular in the automotive sector, was this lightweight off-roader, the Maruti Gypsy. Lack of air-conditioner and power steering made this SUV a horrible city roamer but as the paved roads ended, this beast started to shine in its natural habitat of off-roading. Not only the Gypsy has numerous rally wins on its name, but it has also been the companion of our protectors at borders – the Indian Army. The 4X4 is powered by a petrol power motor that produces 80 PS and 103 Nm of torque.
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