DC Design TIA and Eleron concepts unveiled at New Delhi Auto Expo

DC Design, an automotive design consultancy with several offices and showrooms across India, showed up to the 2014 Auto Expo in New Delhi with two rather unusual concept vehicles – both of which are scheduled for production. The company is headed up by Dilip Chhabria, a former designer for GM, and a man who over the years has produced many different concept and specialty vehicles for numerous clients.

The first of the two vehicles DC Design developed for the show is the tiny little TIA. It measures just 100 inches (2,550 mm) long, making it even smaller than the diminutive Smart Fortwo. Based on a space frame chassis with an integrated roll cage, the DC Design TIA features carbon fiber bodywork and weighs in at 2,094 lbs (950 kgs). Powering the concept is a 1.2 litre turbocharged engine which produces 120 horsepower and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. DC Design say the TIA takes 9 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) and has a top speed of just 100 mph.

The second concept is even more unusual. Called the DC Design Eleron, it is a large, open top SUV which weighs in at 2.5 tons. It features a unique, but not very attractive split level body, with the lower two-thirds being a ruggedized matt black, and the final third painted orange. It’s awkward looking to say the least. It also doesn’t look very practical given its large size. The passenger area looks cramped and the cargo space tiny. Powering the Eleron is a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine which manages to develop 265 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. The transmission is a five-speed automatic unit which drives all four wheels.

Like the TIA, the Eleron uses a space frame chassis covered in composite body panels. It also has an identical 0-62 mph time of 9 seconds. While the top speed is a little better at 124 mph.

DC Design are aiming to get the two models to market within the next couple of years. The small TIA is expected to cost around $28,000 (18 lakh) in its home country. While the Eleron is set to be priced around the $60,000 (35 lakh) mark.

With those steep prices, DC Design probably won’t get a huge number of takers. But then they’re only aiming to produce around 500 Elerons and 1,000 TIAs per year.