NEW DELHI, January 15: After months of suspense, Telco today had a high-profile launch of the car that looks best-positioned to take on Maruti Udyog in even its 800cc market -- it's got more power, more stability, more room and will be priced at around the same Rs 2.5 lakh. And yes, it's completely Indian, save the design, which has been done by IDEA of Italy.Ironically, the 1400cc rival was launched by Murasoli Maran who, as industry minister, is currently engaged in protracted discussions with Suzuki Motors of Japan on who is to control Maruti Udyog -- according to experts, the tussle between the government and Suzuki has ensured that Maruti is not able to develop new models while all its rivals are stealing several steps over it.
The industry minister, in fact, was all praises for Telco, terming their small car the `best in the world'. ``We have a mind-set that anything Indian has to be sub-standard. The House of Telco has overcome this mind-set,'' Maran said mentioning that the car is the `Kohinoor
of India'.
``The car is a fulfillment of a dream we had undertaken two years ago,'' Ratan Tata, Chairman, Telco, said at the meet where the small car was unveiled. The car is on display at the Auto Expo'98. Though he didn't officially reveal the name, speculations say it would be termed Mint, short for mini from Telco.
``We wanted to design a car that has the outside dimensions of a Zen, spacious interiors of an Ambassador, the fuel economy of a diesel vehicle and we have succeeded in achieving all that,'' Tata added. And by the looks of its, the car seems a culmination of all these criterions.
``The small car is the largest project we've ever undertaken,'' Tata said. In fact, the company has made an investment of Rs 1,700 crore. Designed by the I.D.E.A team of Italy, the company claims that this all-Indian car meets world standards.
The car would come in two versions -- standard and luxury -- with the option of choosing from a petrol - and a diesel-driven engine. It is likely to hit the market in the
last quarter of 1998.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
