It was in 2012 that Dilip Chhabria, India's most famous automobile designer (and founder of DC Design), pulled the covers off of the Avanti. Now, a full six years later, DC Design is set to introduce a new mid-engined sportscar at the Auto Expo 2018.
DC Design has been working on an all-new coupé named 'TCA', which denotes titanium, carbon fibre and aluminium, possibly hinting at the materials to be used in the car's construction. It will be based on a heavily reworked version of the Avanti platform, and as a result, the TCA will be longer and wider than the Avanti.
In terms of design, the TCA is likely to head into a new direction. As the teaser image reveals, the car will sport cleaner bodywork with fewer lines than on the Avanti. Inside, you can expect to see a mix of the materials the car takes its name from.
With the increase in size will come the need for more power, and DC will equip the TCA coupé with a 4.0-litre V8 engine that will make upwards of 400hp. That's a big step up from the Avanti, which employed a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine putting out 250hp.
But the big news with the TCA is its gearbox. One of the biggest grouses with the Avanti was its heavy clutch, and so, instead of a six-speed manual, the new coupé will get a seven-speed torque converter automatic sending power to the rear wheels. The significant increase in power and the use of lighter materials in its construction should better the Avanti's 0-100kph time (6sec) and top speed (electronically limited 200kph) with ease.
Despite it being significantly different from the Avanti, the TCA is expected to be priced at just under Rs 40 lakh, which would it make it only slightly more expensive than the Avanti, and the most affordable V8-engined car in the country – by some margin.
The TCA will be unveiled on February 7. You can catch it at Hall No 1 at the Auto Expo.