Remember the Vista D90 Xtreme Concept? A crossover based on the Vista D90 just like how the Cross Polo is based on the regular Polo. The Vista based crossover was expected to be launched in India in the last quarter of 2013 but Tata Motors has revisited its plans. The company is working on a new compact SUV which is based on the X1 platform (both Vista and Manza use the same underpinnings). The Tata Jump will be showcased in concept guise at the upcoming 2014 Auto Expo and a launch is expected in 2015. The vehicle will be under 4-metres in length.
Compact SUVs have become a very hot segment in India and the success of the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport is testimony to that fact. The Jump is likely to give a glimpse of Tata Motors’ future design language although our own source reveals the vehicle resembles the Vista to some extent. The Tata Jump will feature a high ground clearance but won’t be a true-blue off-roader as power will be channelled to the front-wheels. The company is betting big on Automated Manual Transmission and we can expect the same to feature in the Jump as well.
Tata Motors’ plans of entering the compact SUV segment isn’t new. Remember there were multiple rumours floating around last year about a sub 4-metre version of the Aria and Sumo. Making a sub 4-metre out of the Sumo or Aria won’t help in gaining volumes from the compact SUV segment as the company needs a cost effective product which the X1 based Jump will certainly bring to the table. Powering the car would be the recently unveiled 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine and the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel engine. Expect the vehicle to be loaded with features.
Source – Autocar