Iconic Indian Cars Tata Silhouette Mid-engined Hot Hatchback

Admit it. You love a hatchback just as much as your neighbour does, but the only reason you settled for a sub-4 metre SUV is for the perceived status it affords you. While India may have become a proper SUV country now, there remains a select few who still prefer a hatchback to tall and lumpy SUVs. And rarer still are those who are least bothered by the fuel efficiency of their hatchbacks but seek a go-kart-like experience without being open to the elements. Just ask our resident panda Arun Shenoy, who owns a that's ironically called Po.

Over the last several years, we've been lucky enough to be treated to fun hatchbacks like the built in association with J Anand's Jayem Automotives Pvt. Ltd., the Coimbatore-based outfit that builds Formula 2000 that are arguably Asia's fastest single-seater race cars.

However, the relationship between Tata Motors and Jayem Auto goes way before the two companies signed an agreement to build fast Tatas under the JTP sub-brand. Apart from building a few track- and rally-spec Indicas, Tata and Jayem teamed up to build India's most iconic hatchback, a mid-engined called the Silhouette.

Take a look at those flared wheel arches and you'll immediately know that this isn't your regular Uber cab. Instead, it's a proper track monster that's based on a space frame steel chassis topped with the shell of an Indica V2. If that wasn't crazy enough, the Silhouette packs a 3.5-litre V6 mountedandhellip; wait for itandhellip; in the middle just like the Renault Clio V6.

The motor, a race-ready version of as a benchmark for the Silhouette

Apart from the smiley face, the Indica Silhouette looks as mean as a DTM race car. The body not only sits lower to the ground than the standard car but is a lot wider too. The front bumper gets passive spoilers that direct the air around the wheels that are housed under extended arches. At the rear is a proper diffuser to generate downforce and an extremely cool looking quad tailpipe setup.

Other highlights include an adjustable pneumatic suspension system, a data logging system as well as a high accuracy GPS unit to record your lap times. The interior packs necessities such as a racing seat with racing harnesses, a racing steering wheel with paddle shifters, proper race car pedals, and a digital instrument cluster.

After the Silhouette, Jayem and Tata went on to build the in the near future.