The Tata brand may not sound familiar to many of you, but the company is the biggest player in the Indian automotive industry and builds car, commercial vehicles and even trucks.
The company has interest in over 100 countries and its vehicles are starting to be sold in more and more countries with every year that passes.
The TL model is a pretty basic pickup, designed to get the job done without all the bells and whistles that can be seen its Japanese or American rivals. The TL it’s also among the cheapest pickups you’ll ever find in this segment and comes in both 4x2 and 4 x4 configurations.
The 4x4 model bares the TL4 badge and is priced from $14,000, while the 4x2 version is known as the TL2 and cost from $11,670. The single cab TL models can deal with a maximum payload of 1,280kg, while the five-seater double cabs can hold up to 1,030kg.
The Tata Xenon is based on a heavily modified TL chassis. The vehicle uses a body on a ladder frame chassis combined with a live axle at the back, leaf springs and a pretty high ground clearance announcing us that it’s build to tackle the harshest terrains. The Tata Xenon is available in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations, but it’ not quite in the same league as its strong Japanese rivals.
Due to its serene character it can be considered more like a lifestyle vehicle that a genuine work horse. The Xenon is powered by a 2.2 VTT DICOR engine that develops a maximum output of 140 hp. The load body is 1518 long, 1414 mm tall and 405 wide, the pickup being able to carry 260 kg.
In the world of trucking there are a few brands which are instantly put into the “not good” category and don’t even get the chance to prove themselves. Of course that everyone loves the well known and proven European models from DAF, Mercedes, MAN and so on, but what about the less known trucks? Are those trucks that bad to deserve to be treated with ignorance?
Let’s take a closer look at Tata’s Novus model, which is part of the heavy duty league and it’s the first Indian truck that passed the 300 hp barrier and went against the legendary European giants.
After has acquired the truck section from Daewoo, the first model launched by Tata was the Novus. The new truck is based on the Daewoo Novus model which is sold in South Korea.
The Tata Novus features a cab over engine configuration and is available in a wide range of version being able to suit various heavy duty applications. The truck is powered by a Cummins C8 engine which develops between 320 and 420 hp.
Most of the current trucks in Tata’s lineup are rugged and solid vehicles build to deal with the harshest working conditions without breaking down. Besides their proven reliability, the Tata trucks are also pretty cheap and easy to repair which makes them the favorite choice in rural zones or isolated areas.
The SE 1613 is a medium duty truck built for short or regional haul operations and it’s equipped with a Cummins 6BTAA 5.9 liter engine that churns out 125 hp.
Unlike most of the Tata’s trucks which are using a cab over engine construction the SE 1613 features a conventional cab configuration which makes it look significantly different from its siblings.
The LPK model is part of Tata’s Construck range of trucks so the vehicle was especially built for construction sites and different harsh working conditions.
The LPK isn’t at the same level with the European and Japanese trucks when it comes to build quality and reliability, but it comes with a fairly cheap price tag.
Thanks to its versatile platform, it can be used for a wide range of applications and it’s offered with GVWs (gross vehicle weight) ranging from 16200 kg to 25000 kg. With a wheelbase of 3880 mm and an overall length of 6830 mm, the Tata LPK is a pretty big medium duty truck and it’s usually used for light mining, construction and road work.
Under the cab, the Tata LPK can be equipped with two Cummins engines which develop 183 hp and 235 hp.
