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Tata Motors is working on a sub 4-metre version of the Indigo Manza as per India’s top automobile journalist and Autocar India editor Hormazd Sorabjee. Currently Tata Motors offers the Indigo in CS trim only and the price difference between the Indigo CS and Manza is significant. Thus there is a gap between both these vehicles, which Tata wishes to cover with the launch of the Manza CS. The top-end Indigo eCS VX is Rs. 7.19 lakhs, while the top end Manza Elan Quadrajet is priced at Rs. 9.50 lakhs (all prices on-road, Mumbai) Thus there is a gap of almost 2.3 lakhs between both versions of the Indigo.

To eliminate this gap, Tata Motors plans to slip in the compact version of the Indigo Manza, which will be priced right between the Indigo eCS and Manza. The company will benefit from lower excise duties due to the Manza CS getting classified as a small car. The lower duty will be passed onto the buyer and thus the Manza CS will be priced aggressively to take on the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire. The launch could take place by the end of this fiscal year and can boost the sales of the Manza tremendously.

Tata Motors will use the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel engine on the Indigo Manza CS, while the 1.2-litre petrol engine from the Indigo might be offered as well. The company will launch the next generation Indigo in a couple of years and that time they will have to pull the plug on the first generation Indigo. Thus the current generation Manza can take the position of the current Indigo, while the new Manza can sit in place of the current Manza. This will enable Tata Motors to have an excellent product line-up as the current Manza is a huge leap over the original Indigo.

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via – Twitter