Tata Pr1ma concept by Pininfarina

Tata Motors is displaying its latest concept model – the Pr1ma (Italian for 'first’)  - at the Geneva Motorshow and it is the first official project for Pininfarina commissioned by the Indian carmaker. The Italian company has established a cooperative effort with Tata in the fields of research, design and engineering as part of its strategy to become established in India where it aims to offer its design and engineering services to local carmakers.

Pr1ma sits on platform of Indigo sedan

Based on the platform of the first Indian saloon, the Tata Indigo, the 4-door Tata Pr1ma suggests what the next generation of Tata saloons could look like. With a distinctive, elegant design, it has been conceived to provide luxurious comfort while conveying the personality of a coupe.
 
The Tata Pr1ma is aimed at a higher market segment than what Tata presently competes in and the external and internal measurements are larger than those of the Indigo (the wheelbase  of 2700 mm is longer than the Indigo’s). The design balances fluidity and tension, which is visible in the lines that run from the front to the rear of the car. The result is an elegant look, and proportions that are both classic and modern.

The model’s sleek silhouette conveys dynamism and a strong temperament. The long wheelbase allows for a generous amount of room inside, underlined by the uninterrupted profile of the doors, a clean, strong blend of the best ideas of Pininfarina design. Without limiting the space inside, the tapered rear end and inclined passenger compartment convey the feeling of a coupe, underlined by the refined treatment of the pillar, an element that is typical of Pininfarina styling and sportiness.

The front view and the shape of the rear light clusters merge into the distinctive lines of the car’s design, underlining its presence and dimensions. The roof stretches towards the front, conveying a sense of power and force. Each detail has been studied with care, not to decorate, but to underline the basic theme of the design and to raise the profile of the Tata logo.

The Nano

Meanwhile, in Geneva, Tata also displayed the Nano, its low-cost car which will go on sale in India by the end of this month. Tata intends to sell the Nano in Europe as well and recognises that consumers there will expect more car for their money so it has developed a 'Europa’ version which has extra features like power steering, air-conditioning, ABS, airbags, etc. Of course, it will also cost more than the versions which are sold in India as those will be fairly basic, perhaps even spartan, in equipment level. The Europe version will also be slightly larger with a longer body but it would still be shorter than a Perodua Viva.