With the introduction of every new product, Tata Motors has constantly been improving its design and engineering. The Tata Tiago and the Hexa are testaments to the same. However, Tata is now entering the affordable performance segment with the introduction of a dedicated performance division, TaMo.
TaMo – short for Tata Motors, will be the company’s exclusive brand for cars catering to enthusiasts. While details about the brand TaMo will be out soon, rumours about a souped up Tata Tiago (Tiago Plus or Tiago Sport) have been rife for quite some time now, which may turn out to be the first car of the TaMo range.
The Tiago Plus is touted to draw power from Tiago’s 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine fitted with a turbocharger to produce output levels of over 100PS. And the mods aren’t just going to go under the hood with Tata expected to stiffen the suspension setup and fit lightweight alloy wheels to go with the beefed up engine. A roof spoiler, all-around skirting and body graphics may distinguish it from its saner counterpart.
Currently, the VW Polo GT TSI is the best-selling hot hatch. Performance-wise, it’s the Abarth Punto that wins hands down in the sub-Rs 10 lakh segment with 147PS on tap. However, competition is going to get stiffer as Maruti Suzuki will enter the performance space with the Baleno RS in February 2017.
With the entry of a Maruti Suzuki in the frame, it’ll be interesting to see how things shape up as its extensive network and buyer confidence, which Volkswagen lacks, may turn out to be the real catalyst for this segment. For Tata, it’s going to be a bold move, and it’ll be interesting to see the company’s strategy for brand TaMo going forward.
PTI