South Africa - Tata Bolt and Zest to be launched next year

The old Indica will receive an update.

Talking to Business Day Live, Mr. Manny de Canha, CEO of Associated Motor Holdings (AMH), announced that the Tata Zest and Bolt will be launched in South Africa in 2015. AMH is the exclusive importer and distributor of Tata cars in South Africa.

The top official added that it will be a daunting task for the Tata Bolt to go against budget rivals like the Ford Figo, Toyota Etios (both are India-made) and the Polo Vivo, hinting that the Indian automaker's upcoming hatchback would undercut its rivals. The main challenge for the Tata brand in the South African passenger vehicle market is that it is classed in the same category as Chinese brands. The new duo is expected to change that perception.

Mr. Canha also added that the slow selling Safari Storme will be updated eventually (the facelift is due for a debut next year) while the entry level model will continue to be the Indica though the aging hatchback will receive updates mandated by new South African safety rules next year.

Coming back to the Zest/Bolt duo, only the petrol variants are likely to be exported. The cars are powered by the new 1.2-litre Revotron four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which generates 85 PS (83.8 bhp) and 140 Nm of torque (90 PS/88.7 bhp in case of the Zest), and comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Also read: Tata Bolt continues testing in India

Equipment wise, the top-end variants of the new Tata twins come packed with a Harman touchscreen multimedia infotainment system, LED DRLs, a dual-tone interior, ABS and dual airbags.

Competitors for the Tata Zest: Honda Amaze, Toyota Etios
Competitors for the Tata Bolt: Ford Figo, Toyota Etios (Liva), VW Polo Vivo

Tata Bolt - Image Gallery

[Source: BDLive]