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Tata Motors launches Bolt hatchback at Rs. 4.45 lakh

22nd January 2015, 13:56 by Aditya Nadkarni

Click here to read our full review of the Tata Bolt 1.2L Revotron

Tata Motors has launched the Bolt hatchback in India at an introductory price of Rs. 4.45 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Bolt is the second product to be launched under the company's Horizonext strategy, the first one being the Zest compact sedan. Like the Zest, it uses a reworked version of the company's X1 platform. Viewed from the front, the Bolt resembles the Zest with Tata's new signature grille and halogen projector headlamps. However, the daytime running lights that are present on the top-end Zest have been left out. The silhouette of the Bolt is similar to the Vista. The C-pillar of the car is finished in matt black to create a "floating roof" effect. At the rear, the Christmas tree tail lamps that we have seen on previous Tata hatchbacks have been replaced by flame-shaped units. While the top variant of the Bolt comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, the mid and lower variants get 14-inch steel wheels.

The car is available in five colours - Venetian Red, Pristine White, Platinum Silver, Sky Grey and Dune Beige.

On the inside, the Bolt has a Java black dashboard with chrome/ brushed silver detailing and sparkling black accents. The design is, again, similar to that of the Zest. Equipment includes an instrument cluster with a multi-information display, three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, Harman-developed infotainment system with a 5-inch touchscreen, SD Card, Bluetooth, USB and Aux-in connectivity, voice commands, smartphone integration, navigation and climate control. Driver aids and safety features include electric power assisted steering with speed sensitivity and active return function, ABS and two airbags. Parking sensors have been left out.

The Bolt is powered by a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine from Tata Motors' Revotron engine family that develops 89 bhp @ 5000 rpm and peak torque of 140 Nm @ 1500-4000 rpm. The engine features three drive modes - City (default), Eco and Sport. The car can also be bought with a 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder, Quadrajet diesel unit with that puts out 74 bhp @ 4000 rpm and peak torque of 190 Nm @ 1750-3000 rpm. Both engines are available with a 5-speed manual transmission. Tata Motors, at least for now, is not providing the F-Tronic automated manual transmission (AMT) that we have seen on the Zest diesel.

The Bolt will compete with other hatchbacks such as the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 and Elite i20, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Etios Liva and Fiat Punto Evo.

Introductory prices (ex-showroom, Delhi):

Petrol