While just a few days are left for the much-awaited event Auto Expo 2018, which is slated to start on the 7th of February 2017, Tata Motors had made an exciting announcement.
The carmaker had announced that they will be bringing the RaceMo flagship sports car, reports Autocar. The 190 hp RaceMo was first unveiled at the 2017 Geneva motor show, which was a part of Tata’s (now shelved) TaMo project. With its 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor, the mid-engined RaceMo sports coupe makes a modest 190 hp. Though it may not be the powerful sports coupe ever built, it does look the part winning the German Design Award in the Gold category for International Excellence in ‘Exceptional Product Design’, in October 2017.
It is widely expected that RaceMo would sit as a Halo over the Tata Performance Zone, which will feature the go-faster versions of the Tiago hatch and the Tigor sedan. Either of the performance-oriented Tata siblings will be the first of the performance-oriented vehicles from Tata’s alliance with Jayem Automotive.
It’s worth pointing out that the Jayem name, Jayem Auto is an automotive R&D centre based in Coimbatore, who is managed by former racing star J Anand. So far the company has produced the MRF F2000 Formula 3 race car, the 230 hp Super Nano, and the 265 hp V6 powered Indica Silhouette – are considered to be a formidable force in motorsport and performance. As per rumours, they are also expected to introduce the Nano EV later this year badged as the Jayem Neo. Both the Tata Tigor and the Tiago performance vehicles would receive benefit from Tata’s new Impact Design 2.0 philosophy.
Apart from a sportier body kit, both sports coupe will take a more serious stance on performance with the revised suspension setups, and could be powered by the Nexon’s punch 110 hp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Considering the long history of Jayem automotive for building go-faster Tata cars, both, the Tata Tigor hatch and the Tata Tiago could be serious contenders in the still nascent performance car categories. The question remains as to whether Tata will, in fact, bring these on sale anytime soon.