tata xenon xt (TATA Xenon XT: Tata Motors launches Xenon XT Lifestyle SUV)

TATA Xenon XT: Tata Motors launches Xenon XT Lifestyle SUV

Xenon XT is positioned as lifestyle SUV not a pick-up.

Tata Motors today announced the India launch of Xenon XT (Cross Terrain), a life style 4 door, 5 seater pickup. The Xenon XT combines stylish on road presence and comfortable interiors with off road capabilities of a 4x4.

The Xenon XT is powered by the widely accepted 2.2 VTT DICOR diesel engine with a peak power of 140 PS and a peak torque of 320 Nm. It has a 4X4 with an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism and a limited slip differential similar to the Safari.

The Xenon XT is priced at Rs. 7.62 lacs for the 4x2 version and Rs. 8.58 lacs for the 4x4 version, ex showroom Delhi. It comes in 4 attractive shades – White, Black, Silver and Mineral Red.

The Xenon is already being retailed in the overseas markets of Thailand, Algeria, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Source: Press Release TATA motors

TAGS: tata zenon, tata senon, tata lifestyle pickup
Tata Motors has launched the Tata Xenon XT in India. The Tata Xenon pickup trucks have been quite popular internationally in the European, South-East Asian and the African markets. (See Tata Xenon XT launched in Thailand).


We had our first look at the Tata Xenon at the 2008 Auto Expo in New Delhi. In India, the Xenon would fall in the the premium lifestyle truck segment - sort of positioned against the Mahindra Scorpio Getaway. It is expected that such vehicles would be popular in the agrarian parts of the country - especially Punjab.
Tata Xenon XT is a 4 x 4 vehicle (a 4×2 version is also available), powered by a 2.2 litre direct injection common rail (DICOR) producing 140 PS and a maximum torque of 320 Nm. At what RPM is that pwoer produced, we have no idea. We will update the story with the spec sheet as soon as possible. The four-wheel drive of the Xenon XT has an electrical shift-on-the fly mechanism similar to that in the Tata Safari.

Looks-wise, the Tata Xenon XT belongs definitely in the Tata family - from front, it is almost the same as the Tata Sumo Grande. The pickup truck stands tall and handsome shod with 16 inch alloy wheels and tubeless tyres. Along with this, the car incoroporates other features such as an engine immobiliser, seat belt warning and door open warning, HVAC, central locking and electrically adjustable real view mirrors - as the vehicle is positioned as a lifestyle vehicle, such things become critical. Height adjustable seats should keep the driver comfortable.

Inside, there is adequate seating for five - four people would have no problem at all.

Ride and handling should be acceptable. The Xenon XT has a trusted ladder frame suitable for some amount of off-roading. We would have to wait for the test drive reports to be sure about those factors though.

Pickup trucks have never been mass favourites in India, so it is likely that the Xenon XT too would remain a niche product. However, for the prosperous farmer, this would look like a real purchase with all creature comforts and the practically of a load bed that is 1518 mm x 1414 mm in size.

Tata Motors is planning to go the whole premium-segment hog with a bunch of accessories on offer for the Xenon XT - they include fog lamps, boot lid, rollover bars.

The Tata Xenon XT is on offer in a choice of four colours - White, black, silver and mineral red.

Tata Motors and Thonburi Automotive, its JV partner in Thailand have manufactured the Xenon XT at the Thailand unit and exported it to various markets of the world where it got a spectacular response. The Indian automaker has decided to manufacture its Xenon pickup trucks in Turkey to be made by the Isotlar Group at an investment of US $ 12 million. The Indian Xenon XT is expected to be manufactured at Tata’s manufacturing unit in Pimpri, Pune.
Tata Xenon XT price

The 4×2 version of the Tata Xenon XT is priced at rs 7.62 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) while the 4×4 Xenon XT would cost Rs 8.58 lakhs.

Tata Motors has been facing some unexpected troubles due to the worldwide economic slowdown. The company is nearing the launch of the Tata Nano in India - the launch is expected on 3 March 2009. Commercial vehicle sales have been hit, and fortunes for 2009 are not yet clear. There are other launches, such as the Tata Indicruz, being planned for this year. This is a time when tata cannot afford to put a foot wrong, and hopefully the Xenon XT would help the company move forward, even if in a small way.