Tata Motors at AutoExpo’12 showcased many products right from Storme, Commercial Vehicle to Hybrids. But there is one segment may have missed but Tata didn’t: The Sports segment. Along with environment friendly Manza Hybrid there was Sporty, thirsty and radical looking Vista Sports Concept S2. The concept made its appearance in Expo in 2010 also. Since then it has undergone many changes in body.
Vista Sports : Version 2010 had bold Yellow color, large air scoops at front, diffuser at rear, faux twin exhausts appeared like a cosmetic upgrade given by some design house as aftermarket fitment. The mechanicals were almost just like an upgraded Indica Vista, which was launched at AutoExpo’08. Come 2012 and once again Tata has given one more cosmetic surgery to Vista and renamed it to Concept S2. Visuals have now been toned down towards more practical and present Vista. The yellow color also has been dropped down. The large swept back headlamps now got eye lids. Don’t know why, but it looks like just sticker/patch work done over there.
Large scoops also seem to be blown away by wind, making way to fog lamps enclosed in large grill. Prominent chin is also missing. Come at rear end, you’ll hardly notice the present Vista and Concept S2, except little change in bumper. Rear diffuser and faux exhaust are missing. Large alloys with 8 spokes are ‘the thing’ which was most appealing. Inside cabin of Vista follows the treatment, what its exteriors has received. Sporty steering wheel, aluminum pedals and Sparco bucket seats. Everything, inside gets black treatment with some red lines flowing to add some seriousness. No change in console as well.
Engine department, what It reads on paper, now has TurboCharged 1.4 liter MPFI petrol engine producing 140 PS, which appears as an upgrade of Fiat’s 1.4 liter, 95 PS Saffire engine. 5 speed, Manual, C510 gearbox also has been borrowed from Fiat as well. Gear ratios are adjusted to give feel of sportiness. That’s it and list of features in Indica Vista Concept S2 ends here. As a total package Vista Concept S2 no more looks like a concept but much closer to production ready version of it. But amount of excitement we can see and feel is very less. Pay some good amount and aftermarket fitment shop can give you a product almost similar to this. So, Tata if this is your attempt to add one more variant to Vista line up, then its good move. But if it is a true concept which you are trying to put as complete sports machine, then I think many would find it hard to accept. Some good technology and spec upgrades are really missing in this machine. Just think if concept is so neutral then what would happen with the on road, real version of it.
