TATA LPT 1116

The Tata LPT 1116 shares its cabin layout with the smaller LPT 613, which can be best described as cheap and dated. There are no signs of modernity in the cabin, and the lack of features clearly suggest that this cabin has been built to a cost kept in mind.

The two spoke steering wheel of the Tata LPT 1116, along with its broad and flat instrument console with rounded and separated analog gauges, make the driver’s cockpit too plain-jane. The center console too looks quite drab here, as apart from basic looking AC vents, there is nothing much to talk about the vertical looking dashboard.

The Tata LPT 1116 has got a very straightforward design language, which it shares with the smaller LPT 613. This 11-tonner light-duty truck from Tata Motors has got a visual appeal and stance of a medium-duty truck, which gives it a size advantage.

Like the LPT 613, the Tata LPT 1116 has got too many rectangular influences in its design, which is pretty evident from the way its panels and bits have been designed. Everything at the front, including the windshield, grille, headlamp units and fog lamps have been shaped in the form of a rectangle, thus giving it a proportional look.

The half of the front profile has been covered by the large windshield, which has angular edges and is not a curved unit as seen in a majority of other light-duty trucks. Between the windshield and the grille, there is a sleek rectangular front apron that looks plain and is devoid of any crease or character line.

The long and horizontal grille placed at the bottom of the front profile has a broad black garnish panel spread across the end-to-end width of the front, just above it. The main grille too is finished in black and is flanked with rectangular headlamps. These headlamps are further assisted with amber turn indicators on their outer edges. From the side and upper edges of these turn indicators, a vertical black garnish rises, which extend upwards towards the edge of the A-pillar.

The side panel of the Tata LPT 1116 has been kept very simple, and the door panels here do not get any type of crease or curve to enhance its visual appeal. The side window panels here have an S-shaped waistline, which ends up at the edge of the A-pillar, where the rearview mirrors are mounted. The semi-rounded wheel arches don’t get any kind of molding, but themselves come integrated with turn indicators.

Built on a ladder-type frame with riveted/bolted cross members, the Tata LPT 1116 gets semi-elliptical leaf springs at both ends, with the rear part of the suspension also getting additional auxiliary leaf springs. The leaf springs get further assistance with hydraulic double acting telescopic shock absorbers at both front and rear. To bring this truck to halt, Tata has given it a dual circuit full air S-CAM service brake.

The Tata LPT 1116 comes with a 5.7-litre inline six cylinder diesel engine coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The maximum power and output which it pumps out are 160 PS and 550 Nm respectively. The Euro II compliant engine is a bit dated in terms of technology, but gets the job done of serving an adequate amount of torque as and when needed.

There are no modern safety features available in the Tata LPT 1116, and the presence of safety seat belts is the only essential bit it gets on this list.

The Tata LPT 1116 is a built to cost mobility and transport solution, which might look very basic in its appearance and engineering under the skin. However, it is capable enough to cover all the parameters for which it has been made, by having a better load-hauling capacity over rivals.