Tata Indigo CS

Tata promised the world a car that would cost Rs. 1 lakh and it gave the world just that. Owing to media hype, every corner of the world is now aware that the Tata Nano is the cheapest car on the planet. Now, following the Nano hysteria, Tata has once again launched the cheapest-of-its-kind product, the Tata Indigo CS (Compact Saloon); this is the cheapest saloon in the world. With a splendid, tempting price tag of just Rs 3,79,000 (ex-showroom Mumbai) for the base model, the new CS is a remarkable Rs 91,220 cheaper than the regular Indigo’s base variant. In fact, the regular Indigo will continue to be produced and sold alongside the CS.

Advantage customers


In a clever move, Tata has placed the CS in hatchback-land therefore, created its own spot for it in the market. The new Indigo was launched at the Auto Expo held at Delhi in February this year. Owing to the chop of boot, the Indigo CS qualifies as a small car and therefore it can take advantages of the small car regulations that specify that if a car is less than four metres in length, it gets an eight per cent tax reduction. The Indigo CS is 3988mm long and can benefit from this regulation.

The Tata Indigo CS was in development stages for a year. The most time was taken in developing the dyes that came all the way from Ogihara in Japan; these are considered to be the best dye-makers in the world. The dyes were used to stamp the stubby boot and side fenders, the only body panels that are new. Speaking of new, the sharply-cut tail lights on the Indigo CS are also a new feature and the rest of it remains pretty much like the regular Indigo even the rear glass on both is the same.

The chopping of the boot has resulted in a remarkable improvement in the looks department of the Indigo. The styling has made such a difference that the CS looks several times better than the regular Indigo. The boot and large overhang of the old Indigo seemed quite disproportionate and did not flow smoothly with the rest of the car’s body. When the boot got chopped, this awkwardness also was removed improving the look of the car tremendously. The new compact boot suits the car and this one difference in style had helped the Indigo move generations ahead stylistically even though most of the car remains the same.

However, it’s all very nice for the style quotient to have the boot chopped off, but how does this 162mm reduction affect boot space? Not too badly. The CS still has a very useful 380litres of boot space and this is still more than other hatchbacks! And at a pinch, you can flip down the back seat.