Tata Zica: The next big thing; launch, price, features and all you need to know

Finally, the stage is all set to welcome the next big offering of Tata Motors -- the Zica. Zica, the name of Tata's much-awaited small hatchback Kite is just a few weeks away from its launch.

The Zica, the next car under Tata's HorizoNext umbrella is coming to the market with high expectations aiming to square it with the already-established Maruti Alto, WagonR, Celerio, Renault Kwid and Hyundai Eon. Incidentally, Tata will roll out Zica from its Sanand Plant in Gujarat making it first non-Nano hatchback from this plant.

As Tata prepares to roll out its hatchback, which is based on XO platform, here we round up the key things you need to know about Zica.

Tata Zica launch and price

Tata is expected to break the cover off its Zica, a global hatchback, in India in the first week of December. The launch of the model is expected to take place sometime in January 2016. In the highly competitive Indian small car market, where Tata Zica will aim squarely at the already-established Maruti Alto, WagonR, Celerio, Renault Kwid and Hyundai Eon, what would be a real challenge for Tata is to price its offering in such a way that it takes charge of its segment. It will not come as a surprise too if Tata manages to do that as Renault, the French auto marker succeeded with the SUV-like hatchback Kwid. The rumours swirling around its launch on the web predict a price tag starting at Rs 3.6 lakh (ex-showroom).

Zica design and styling

Underpinning Indica eV2, Tata Zica is expected to replace one of Tata's best-selling hatchbacks, Indica and is likely to flaunt a different design from its predecessor.  By the looks of it, the Zica seems to have got refreshing rear styling and looks to have borrowed design cues from Tata's Bolt and Zest. However, we expect it to be a trifle different from all these models.

Coming to the cabin, from the early glimpse that we got from the spy shots of Tata Zica, the car seems to have a cabin similar to Bolt and Zest and it appears that it has the same steering wheel as Bolt. The top-end variant of Tata Kite is expected to get Harman infotainment system with a touchscreen display and steering mounted audio and call controls. The hatchback is also expected to get height-adjustable driver seat, dual front airbags and ABS with EBD. The Zica's features list is also expected to include electrically adjustable ORVMs and rear defogger.

Zica engine and power 

Now, coming to the mechanical part, the Zica is expected to be offered in both petrol and diesel engines. Its power line-up is expected to include a new 1.05-litre three-cylinder common-rail diesel motor that can churn out 64.1bhp and 140Nm of torque, and an all-new 1.2-litre petrol engine. The transmission duty in Zica is likely to be handled by five speed gearbox and we also hear there could be an AMT variant on offer.