Tata Bolt Launch Might Delay in India: Report

Tata Motors will reportedly push back the launch of its highly anticipated Bolt hatchback in India, according to an emerging report.

The Bolt, a hatchback from the maker of the cheapest car Nano was originally expected to make its entry into the market during this festive season. Now the latest Rushlane report, close to the development claims that the Bolt will not see the light of the day until early 2015. Although we are not sure the reason for holding up the launch of Bolt, rumours suggest that Tata is making more room for its soon-to-be-launched Zest sedan and it is waiting to see how the auto world is receiving it, which is tipped for a launch in August.

From what we know so far, Bolt will be offered in both petrol and diesel engine options in the country. The diesel model of the car will get power from 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel motor, which can generate a max power of 73 bhp and peak torque of 190 Nm and the petrol variant of the Bolt is powered by 1.2-litre Revotron turbocharged engine. The engine is tested to churn out a power of 84 bhp at 5,000 rpm and a torque of 140 Nm of 1,750-3,500 rpm.

Underpinning X1 platform, the new hatchback is likely to carry features like an audio system with MapMyIndia GPS, touchscreen and voice commands, center console, infotainment system, electric power steering in place of Tata Indica Vista's hydraulic unit, projector headlamps and LED tail lamps. The car will be pitted to rival the current frontrunners of the segment Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i10, i20, Honda Jazz, Chevrolet Beat and Volkswagen Polo in the country and the car is likely to be priced in ₹7 lakh brackets.

Meanwhile, Tata has started accepting bookings for its Zest in the country with an advance payment of ₹21,000. Zest, India's first sedan with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) technologies will also be offered in both petrol and diesel variants.

The petrol version of the sedan will be powered by a 1.2 litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged Revotron engine under the hood, which can churn out a power of 85 PS at 5,000 rpm and a peak torque of 140 Nm 1,750-3,000 rpm. The diesel model will come with a 1.3 litre Quadrajet motor, which can generate 90 PS power at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm torque at 1,750-3,000 rpm.