Maxabout Review

Good Alternate To Alto

XETA stands for eXtra fuel Efficiency, Torque Advantage engine. Tata claims to have made significant changes to its 1405cc block; except slightly decrease the stroke and hence the displacement to 1396cc. The company engineers adopted a two-pronged strategy while making the changes - reduce the power available on tap to lessen the overall load and improve torque characteristics to enable a more linear delivery of power within the lower engine rpm bands.

This helps the Xeta get some advantages provided by the budget for sub 1.4 litre cars. Now this car has set its foot in the segment that seen the maximum sales for about 2 years now, championed by the Maruti alto. The engine's pistons and rings have also been re-engineered to reduce the weight and width of the ring to achieve a lowering of friction, which will also enable a lowering of fuel consumption in the long run. In addition, a new two-part aluminium oil sump and plastic timing covers have been incorporated to improve the XETA's NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels.

The engine's idling speed has also been reduced to reduce fuel consumption and improve NVH. Fuel efficiency of the new XETA should be better than its predecessor by up to 15-20 per cent. The new XETA has the potential to change the Indica's image of being a guzzler. The overall interior package - of dull beige and slightly improved plastic quality - is better than the previous version's and the prices have also been lowered compared to the equivalent trim-level variant of the older V2.

The new revamped Indica V2 now has sports few more design cues in the form of flared wheel arches and some shinier lights. Tata has really worked its boots off to make sure that this car is a formidable rival to its Korean and Japanese competition. The design and styling of this small car means that it isn't all that small after all, its design idea translates to a body which is 3.7m long and 1.7m wide with a wheelbase of 2.4m. With a subtle C-pillar body, Xeta sports a smiling chrome front grille and eye-shaped headlamps. The body-build of this hatchback is a perfect fit for the Indian roads. All the variants of the car get body colored bumpers, mirrors, and wheel flares.

These figures normally correspond to much bigger cars, which means that this car results in being much wider and bigger than its puny Japanese rivals. As a result of common physics though, the car ends up being 1000 Kgs, which is about 200 Kgs heavier than most of its rivals. The extra weight and the use of thicker gauge sheet metal has resulted in a car that definitely feels much sturdier than what we're used to. Indica V2 XETA is equipped with all the safety features that are expected from a hatchback.

The standard safety features of all the variants of Indica V2 XETA include child safety locks on rear doors, anti-submarine seats, collapsible steering column, headlamp leveler, provision for rear fog lamps, rear spoiler with high mounted stop lamp, and side intrusion beam on all four doors. The electronic instrument cluster looks classy, with two trip meters that are equipped with light intensity controls. Apart from this, the cabin is adorned with spot lamps, lamp in luggage compartment, front door map pocket, and all-doors operated cabin lamp.

The rear seat of the car can be folded in order to increase the cargo space. Tata Motors has also launched a new limited edition model of Indica V2 Xeta christened as Indica Xeta Sprts. It gets a WRC car like body graphics and chrome tipped exhaust. Indica Xeta sports also gets smart new decals. The car is available in numerous colors, including Amazon Blue, Pastel Green, Arizona Ochre, Cavern Grey, Salsa Red, Carbon Black, Artic Silve, and Mint White.