2013 Tata Winger long wheelbase cargo version scooped in an ICB exclusive

Team ICB’s roving eye in the sky, EarthFusion, is back with yet another scoop, this time of that of the Tata Winger cargo version. The panel van was caught testing on the outskirts of Pune, and is expected to be launched over the next few months in the Indian market, even as competition in the panel van segment is all set to hot up with the arrival of the Ashok Leyland Stile, based on the Nissan NV200 MPV. The 2013 Tata Winger Panel Van will feature an elongated wheelbase to make for a very capacious luggage area and this will be the Winger’s USP. The test mule that EarthFusion spotted featured 15 inch wheels, an inch bigger than the current Winger’s 14 inchers.

2013 Tata Winger Long Wheelbase Panel Van Spyshot

The extended wheelbase version could also be available on the passenger van variant of the Winger, which could also receive a facelift. In the coming days, we will showcase to you a speculative render on how the facelifted Winger passenger van with the extended wheelbase could look like. Currently, the Winger can carry about 10-14 persons in various seating patterns. The extended wheelbase Winger is expected to squeeze in an additional two seats. With the longer Winger passenger van, it seems like Tata Motors is gunning straight for the Force Traveler’s jugular.

Currently, the Winger is available with a choice of two diesel engine options, 68 Bhp and 90 Bhp. While the 68 Bhp version does duty in BS3 markets, the 90 Bhp engine is what the Winger comes with in BS4 markets. In the future, the 2.2 Liter DICOR diesel engine will power the Winger as detailed previously by us in our exclusive scoop. We expect the 2.2 Liter DICOR engine for the Winger to be available with a 120 Bhp output, which is the same state of tune as that of Tata Grande. On whether this engine will also be available for the panel van variant of the Winger is something that remains unknown at the moment although we’ll dig around for more information about the panel van.

The panel van variant of the Winger is expected to take on the upcoming Ashok Leyland Stile. The Stile is a restyled and rebadged Nissan NV200 MPV, that is sold in many markets across the globe. The Stile will be powered by the 1.5 Liter K9K turbo diesel engjne and will also be available with a CNG dual fuel option. The engine is expected to be mated to a five speed manual gearbox with a 85 Bhp-200 Nm power and torque output being likely. The Stile is expected to be launched in early 2013.