The rally spec Tata Bolt was upgraded for the Coimbatore rally with a roll cage, racing seats, 5-point seatbelts among other modifications.
While Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra are established Indian manufacturers in the Indian rally scene, Tata Motors has limited presence but showcased its potential by displaying the rally spec Bolt replica at the 2015 Autocar Performance Show in Mumbai. The decked up Bolt in the top-of-the-line trim featured race livery in addition to other rally spec upgrades.
The Tata Bolt hasn’t been a contestant car in any of the rally competitions yet. However, the company along with Team Kajah Motorsports was part of the 2015 Rally of Coimbatore where two Bolts participated as safety cars. The cars were built in just 15 days and were upgraded with a host of mandated essentials under FMSCI’s guidelines.
The rally spec Tata Bolt comes with racing seats, 5-point seatbelts and alloy wheels wrapped in rally spec tyres. The rally car also comes with a roll cage for improved protection levels while the hatchback ditched the dashboard and rear seats to keep the weight to a minimal. The rally version also comes with a smaller race spec steering wheel and the gearshift knob is replaced with a taller stick for faster cog changes.
It isn’t clear if the Tata Bolt was upgraded under the hood for the rally competition, but the automaker did convey that power on the hatchback could be uprated north of 150 HP from the same 1.2-litre Revotron motor. While Tata hasn’t announced its plans of participating in any future competitions as yet, the Bolt is said to be a compelling option for rally drivers having its basics right, which can be improved with the right modifications.
