Tata Avinya Concept : A Close Look
A concept car is something that is displayed to show either new technology or design language or both. Often, these are often displayed at events such as motor shows to gauge customer response. Many times, the designs are over the top. But then, the concept undergoes many revisions till it's ready for production. Many a time, the production-ready vehicle bears little or no resemblance to the concept.
Last month, Tata Motors showcased two concept cars - the
Curvv and the Avinya. While the Curvv is based on the Tata Motors' Generation 2 EV architecture, the latter is based on the Gen 3 EV architecture.
According to the company, the name "Avinya" is derived from the Sanskrit language and stands for "Innovation". The production version of the car is expected to hit the market by 2025. Positioned as a cross between an SUV and an MPV, the car offers ample space on the inside thanks to the lack of a traditional engine and floor mounted batteries.
Made with the use of lightweight materials, the Avinya gets an EV-optimized structure. The company claims that the car's battery will support ultra-fast charging, estimated to provide 500 km of range in under 30 minutes. It will also get next-generation connectivity and advanced driver assistance technologies. This platform is expected to offer high structural safety, water proofing and dust protection, making it suitable for different terrains.
Tata Avinya Concept Exterior Images
Futuristic front end gets LED strips across its width that form the new "T" logo. Slim headlamps sit above the LED strips on either side. The lower portion of the bumper has no vents and is instead filled with multiple LEDs that turn on and off in sequence:
A closer look at the bumper. Notice the individuals LEDs. There are two L-shaped wings (probably to deflect air onto the wheels for cooling the brakes and for better aerodynamics):
The new "T" logo:
Large windscreen extends into the bonnet area towards the bottom and into the full glass roof at the top:
No door handles! Towards the bottom, the black plastic breaks the monotony:
Glass area is not large. Notice the absence of the B-pillar:
While it looks like the air scoop is designed to deliver air to the rear engine, it is just a visual element. The rear doors swing open backwards (suicide doors):
ORVM duties are handled by these slim wing-mounted cameras. On the inside, each A-pillar has small displays showing the view from the cameras:
Funky 22" rims shod with 265/35 section tyres. Notice the new "T" logo in the center:
Rear end gets a red backlit "T". It is mounted on a wing:
The wing extends into the sides and juts out. From this angle, the Avinya looks like an MPV:
A closer look at the extended portion of the wing with embedded LED lights:
Tata Avinya Concept Interior Images
The interiors have a pleasant colour scheme and a minimal design. This might not be to everyone's taste, but if this is what the future holds, I'm sure Gen Z will love it. I like the materials used as well. However, it's too early to tell if the same will be used in the production-spec car.
Step inside and you will feel like you are getting inside a completely new mode of transportation:
Dashboard is non-existent. There is just a big hole where one would expect a traditional dash. No buttons, no infotainment screen or air-con vents:
Funky steering wheel will divide opinions. The small screen in the middle displays the essentials and the controls for various functions are placed on either side:
Voice commands are displayed on the small screen:
Stalks for the wipers / indicators have a metallic finished in this cool metal. No marking for any of the buttons:
Speed, battery status, range and navigation directions are displayed in this screen just below the front windshield. The clarity of the screen is good:
Rolls Royce Phantom-like doors are large and take up a considerable space on the sides when open. Ingress / egress is very easy thanks to the lack of a B-pillar. There is ample space to step in or out:
Doorpads are finished in a brown and beige:
Frame-less windows! Slim glass looks good with the doors open:
White cylindrical air-con vent is adjustable and placed on the doorpad. There are no handles as doors open and close electronically. Each door gets temperature and seat control switches along with a button to open or close it:
Seats are wide, but lack side bolstering. These can also swivel to make ingress / egress easier. The base has textile material while the back rest is clad in leather:
Notice the unique seatbelt mounting location. This is because there are no B-pillars to mount the seatbelts:
Seatbelt clip goes in here:
Seat are mounted on a single point (which moves back and forth and swivels as well):
Front armrest houses the motor On/Off switch and R-N-D buttons. It also holds the switches for the parking brake and auto hold:
Pedals are finished in a brushed aluminium and look sleek. B-pedal is wider than the A-pedal:
Rear bench is wide. It has the same seatbelt arrangement as the front seats: