As Tata Motors launched a ‘lifestyle’ version of its Xenon XT the company revealed that it hasn’t been decided yet on whether the Argentinean built pick-up will use its own of Fiat’s engines.

As Tata Motors launched a ‘lifestyle’ version of its Xenon XT the company revealed that it hasn’t been decided yet on whether the Argentinean built pick-up will use its own or Fiat’s engines. Launched in Geneva earlier last year, the Xenon pick-up will be built at the Córdoba plant in Argentina by Fiat from the end of this year and is set to be dual branded.

''We are in talks for the Argentinean market and are yet to decide if the vehicle will have a Tata or a Fiat engine,'' Tata Commercial Vehicle division chief P M Telang informed reporters last week at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi. The project stems from a feasibility study that got underway in the summer of 2006; annual production is slated at 20,000 units, with an investment of $20 million earmarked. The Xenon pickup range has proved remarkably successful for Tata, who have in fact stolen the headlines at the première Indian motor show with their new ‘low cost’ car dubbed the Nano. ''The Xenon is extremely popular in Italy and Spain and we are also planning to take it to West Asia and considering setting up a plant in Thailand,'' revealed Telang.

Tata revealed two new versions of the Xenon in New Delhi last week. The new Xenon XT (Cross Terrain) is a lifestyle pick-up with comfortable interiors and 4 x 4 off-road capabilities. Xenon XT has an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism for the 4x4 application with limited slip differential.

The vehicle has charcoal grey interiors and can comfortably seat 5. It offers a loading volume of 870 L. If offers car like comfort and convenience features like power steering, power windows, central locking, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), electrically adjustable side rear view mirrors and height adjustable seat belts. It also comes equipped with an engine immobiliser, seat belt warning & door open warning, 16 inch alloy wheels and tubeless tyres.

It is powered by a 3.0 L direct injection common rail (DICOR) diesel engine with a maximum power of 115 PS (at 3000 rpm) and maximum torque of 300 Nm (at 1800 – 2000 rpm). The vehicle will be launched later in 2008 and will be available with a wide accessory package.

The second version of the Xenon to be unveiled at the Auto Expo is the commercial use Xenon ‘Single Cab’ which has an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism with limited slip differential that facilitates easy driving. The Xenon Single Cab offers car like comfort and convenience features like power steering, power windows, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), electrically adjustable side rear view mirrors with heating and height adjustable seat belts. Other features include engine immobiliser and CLU (Central Locking Unit), clear lens head lamp and tail lamp, ignition switch with illumination ring, seat belt warning & door open warning, high mount stop lamp, alloy wheels and tubeless tyres.