Hindustan Motors Ambassador Compact Car In Q4

Image: Morris Oxford

HM could not resist biting into the sub-4 meter, compact car pie, like several other Indian car makers. Mr Bose has said the smaller Ambi will lose its boot, but will not be a hatchback. We sense another Verito Vibe here. An Ambi without its trademark bulbulous boot does not look good in our minds eye.

An Ambassador taxi in Kolkata

A name and exact launch date has not been confirmed. However, it will retain the Ambassador name and get a suffix added to it.

New features; modern looks

Mr. Bose says, the compact Ambassador will come with several modern features that are commonly found in present day cars. He also said the new car will appeal to a younger, modern group of buyers.

Image: A DC Design concept based on the Ambi

TOI quoted another HM executive as saying, "To a person in rural or semi-urban India, the Ambassador is a 'VIP' car. He has seen politicians and bureaucrats travelling in the car and so it is an aspirational car for him. We have reached out to such potential customers in the rural and semi-urban areas and have found a new market there."

Now we wait...

No one can deny the Ambassador's iconic status in our country, which alone has ensured its survival in the 21st century. A more modern, feature packed model is certainly welcome, but without the classic Ambi design to lean on, the new compact car will have to prove its worth to make a place for itself. It will be interesting to see how the Uttarpara based company will give the ‘grand old car'
a modern makeover.