Indian auto giant Tata Motors' Indica eV2 and Indigo eCs are likely to be withdrawn from the roads by 2017 as the models will not meet the proposed stringent crash test and pedestrian safety standards to be in effect from 2017.
Though the company still has the option of upgrading both the models to match the new safety standards, it does not look viable. A report from MotorOctane claims that Tata is unlikely to upgrade Indica eV2 and Indigo eCs as the company is readying Kite twins, which will take to the roads before that.
Tata Kite twins, the upcoming sedan and hatchback, are currently undergoing test runs in India. Caught on camera numerous times, it is being said that the updated models will replace Tata Indica and Indigo.
Tata is likely to launch the twins as personal cars as most of its models are currently falling under the tag of 'fleet cars'.
Tata Kite is based on the Indica platform. Under the hood, it is likely to get the company's new 1.05-litre three-cylinder common-rail diesel motor that can churn out a power of 64.1bhp and a peak torque of 142 Nm.
The petrol variant will have an all-new 1.2-litre, four-pot motor with a maximum power of around 75 hp and a peak torque of 120 Nm.
The Kite is speculated to get an e-clutch system similar to AMT, which allows drivers to use manual transmission for the first gear without using the clutch.
