From The Company That Brought You The Jaguar F-Type.. | Tata Bolt Sport & Hexa Concepts | Geneva Motor Show 2015

The Rover CityRover.

Remember it? Just to refresh your memory, the British owned and run Rover corporation was having money troubles. Specifically, they didn't have enough to develop desperately needed new cars. So, we got the CityRover, which as a dated and seriously cheap car from India, made by Tata. They were shipped across, Rover badges were stuck on and the price inflated. It was an unmitigated disaster.

The car was fine for India motorists, especially because it was very cheap. But, here, in the the UK with a normal price tag? Forget it. That was the last time we saw a Tata car. The Indian company must have took a shining to British car companies however, as the recent resurgent of Jaguar and Land-Rover is down to their new owners, Tata.

So, here we were at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, and surprisingly, Tata had a stand. Not their big, fancy, Jaguar and Land-Rover one, but own brand products. Cheap as chips. Do they have anything to offer.


First up, is the Hexa concept. A large MPV, with SUV styling cues (Black body cladding) and modern touches (LED lights). As cars of this ilk go, is it certainly different and stand-out. If this had a diesel engine, long warranty and a cheap price, this could fill the popular budget-van-with-seats market that Kia used to service with the original Sedona.

Next to the Hexa, is something completely different. Called the Bolt Sport, it is a small city car with skirts and red paint. Yes, very sporting... Actually, the rear disc brakes and a 1.2 Turbocharged engine point to something akin to a FIAT Panda 100hp. Tiny, unassuming, almost laughable, but with a heart of gold. Inside it looks very European and quite impressive. Sadly, the fit and finish is sub-par. I haven't seen plastics this low-rent in a very long time. Mind you, again, if the price is right, this could be very interesting indeed.

So, there we are. The company that bought out Corus Steel, Tetley Tea, two of the most prestigious British car brands and created the world's cheapest new car, the Nano, still makes regular cars. The question is, are they suited to the European market? I remain to be convinced.

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Why not read: Out Of Seemingly Nowhere, Ssangyong Produce A Timely Compact SUV - Tivoli | Geneva Motor Show 2015

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