TATA ARIA: INDIA'S FIRST CROSSOVER

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

TATA ARIA: INDIA'S FIRST CROSSOVER

By Drew Johnson

India’s Tata Motors is best known for making rugged SUVs – and of course its recent purchase of the Land Rover and Jaguar brands – but the off road-brand has just announced the launch of India’s first four-wheel drive crossover.

Dubbed the Aria, Tata describes the CUV as “a luxurious creation with the finesse of a sedan and the muscle of an SUV all blended in one car.”

At first glance, the Aria appears to be a Nissan interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class. However, the Aria has a higher ride height than your typical crossover, giving it the off-road chops of a traditional SUV.

Inside the Aria features three rows of seating, and luxuries not typically found in the Indian market, including a height-adjustable driver’s seat, power mirrors, a rear-view camera, automatic climate control, Bluetooth, glove box chiller, rain sensing wipers and the segment’s first in-dash GPS-based navigation system. Traction control, ABS, ESP and six airbags should ensure the Aria is one of the safest vehicles on India’s roads.

Power for the Aria will be provided by a 2.2L diesel engine, delivering 140 horsepower. All Aria models -- Pride, Prestige, Pleasure – will come equipped with four-wheel drive.

No word on pricing or availability, but Tata says the Aria will be sold in 25 Indian cities.

LINK:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/tata-aria.html