Tata Kite 5 compact sedan: Five things we know so far

It is one of the open secrets that Tata Motors is readying a new compact sedan based on its popular hatchback Tiago. The compact sedan, which is yet to get an official name, is currently known by its codename Kite 5.

The Kite 5, which was showcased at the Auto Expo 2016 earlier this year, has been undergoing testing in different parts of the country since then. It is expected to be launched in the country in 2017 after the launch of the Hexa and the Nexon and is likely to be priced competitively.

Now, as auto lovers in the country still have a long wait before the arrival of the Kite 5 in the market, here we round up the details of the compact sedan we know so far in five quick points.

1) The Kite 5, which is based on the same platform as the Tiago measures 3,995mm in length, 1,647mm in width and 1,535mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,450mm.

2) It will feature chrome Humanity Line at the front that extends to the dual chamber headlamps, LED tail lamps and bold shoulder lines.

3) The Kite 5 is expected to host a slew of goodies such as a five-inch touchscreen infotainment system with USB, aux and Bluetooth connectivity, six-speaker sound system and safety features including dual airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Corner Stability Control (CSC).

4) Under the hood, Kite 5 will the borrow 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel motor from the Tiago. The petrol engine will churn out 83.8bhp of power at 6,000rpm and 114Nm of torque at 3,500rpm, while the diesel engine will develop 69bhp of power and 140Nm of torque. Both engines will be available with multi-drive modes — Eco and City.

5) The latest reports suggest that the Kite 5 could be monikered as Viago or Altigo in India. The names previously rumoured for the Kite 5 were Sway, Dribble, Canvas and Ingrid.