The Tata Magic IRIS is surely a novel approach to vehicle design and may have been designed exclusively for the Indian market. The boxy shape, compact size and focus on affordability and practicality over aesthetics question what 'Indian design' means in the world of automobiles. For some, it’s a perfect example of jugaad engineering, a term for making the most of minimal resources to create maximum utility. For others, it is an economic constraint reflection, rather than a deliberate design choice. The vehicle is so widely used and has such a recognisable silhouette that it's practically become an icon of Indian roads, perhaps even on its way to becoming a cultural icon. The question arises of the balance between universal design trends and local needs in emerging markets, and whether the Magic IRIS is a truly Indian approach to automotive design.