Indian manufacturing giants, TATA Automobile Corporation SA, have told SA Car Fan that we can expect two new Indian built, budget car offerings to land in South Africa before the second quarter of 2013. In true Tata style they aren’t going to be particularly flashy or attractive to look at, but they do promise to stick to the Indian manufacturer’s core values of simplicity, space and affordability. The first of these two new cars will arrive this year and will be a four door sedan version of the existing Tata Vista.

The second will be a vehicle Tata are billing as the world’s first ever Indian crossover. We assume that aren’t talking about Chicken Korma or Bollywood, because those both crossed over from India with great success. No, we’re just pulling your leg. The Tata Aria will be a compact crossover type vehicle, featuring both 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrain options, an automatic gearbox and, most notably we feel, featuring a seven seater layout; just perfect for squeezing all the family into on the weekend. Under the bonnet will be a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol engine that produces 105 kW.

The four-door Manza sedan will feature the same running gear as the Vista and produce the same 65 kW from its 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine, which is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Tata has not hinted at pricing yet, especially not for the Aria that is much further from launch, but we can expect the Manza to be keenly priced against other budget offerings like the Renault Sandero and Toyota Etios.