POWER TORQUING :
The cool and calculated manner in which the Sedan development has gone its way reflects well on the project managers. An excellent example of this comes by way of the powerpacks. While diesel has remained a core strength of Tata Engineering, many will find the turbo-diesel version of the 1405cc just the ticket for the class but it will be the petrol which will provide the most surprises. The 85 horses max power output (for the moment) and a whole host of engine mapping in areas of throttle travel and loading plus fuel delivery have all played a major role in endowing the spark ignition version of the 1405cc mill with a strong torquey spread. The way the petrol-engined Sedan moved on the long straights of the ERC test track brought a smile to all members of our team with the apparent lack of vibration. Just to give the salient details of the engine's output, the 85bhp is made at 5500rpm while max torque developed is 110Nm at 3000rpm. Overall gearing has been revised and the ratios seem better spaced to benefit from the torque peak from shift to shift. I am sure that this engine will help everyone revise their opinion about Tata Engineering's petrol proficiency!

Playing to its strength is the diesel which gets blown - thanks to the fitment of a KKK turbocharger. While max power jumps to 60bhp (at 5000rpm) from the 53.5bhp dished out by the naturally aspirated version, it is the sheer wallop delivered in torque-ing terms that will delight even a petrol-head! The bottom end response is clean, the power delivery is crisp and punchy with amazingly next to no turbo lag and the strong torque hurtles the car forward in a very purposeful manner. Both engines will be the Sedan's strong suit and if Tata Engineering can get the clutch pedal pressures right and the shift quality spot-on, the driver appeal will only add to the Sedan's feelgood quality.

SITTING PRETTY :
The Indica set standards for cabin space among the hatchbacks and the Sedan only builds on this in its class. While the seats upfront have been revised, we would like to see some more side support and also a bit more under-thigh support. The new thick-rimmed four-spoke steering wheel is good and grippy but is mounted too high. V Sumantran again gave his rationale for that but the final spec hasn't been signed off as yet and maybe some changes could happen in this area.

The gearshift quality is too rubbery for my liking and while the cars we sampled were early hand built protos, cars in the mid-size segment are expected to sport certain positive feel elements in their operation and the clutch, gearshift, steering and braking characteristics need to amply provide that. Driver appeal is an intangible which needs to be worked into the product and I am sure that this is where the effort is being lavished on the Sedan. The extension to the wheelbase has helped the back-benchers immensely and the Sedan boasts best in class head room and leg room. The company is still working out the best seat recline angle and there is no decrying the effort to date. Just take a look at the well thought out shelf behind the back seat and the niftily angled perch for the stereo speakers to highlight one such detail. The door pads are new, the moulded roof is a new item and by and large revised new textures to the dashboard and other details requiring that tactile feel have been given much thought to. The advent of the boot means a large Indian family can be carried in style along with 450 litres of luggage and then some more!