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A leaked design patent from Tata Motors has revealed the Terrain Mode that could debut in its upcoming SUV. The patent image shows a rotary knob with seven different terrain modes which include snow, road, gravel, mud and other modes. Tata Motors is expected to start offering all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with its electric SUV from the Harrier EV.
A month ago, big news came from the world of car manufacturing. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin had gone to America. There he met the leadership team of Ford Motors. Three years ago, during the Corona period, Ford had decided to withdraw its luggage from India. Now it was time to reverse this decision. Ford International Market President K Hart said that the company wants to reopen the Chennai plant. Wants to make cars there again which will be exported. When the company took the decision to close the Sanand and Chennai plants in Gujarat, it suffered a loss of two billion dollars. No company wants to face such a situation, but it was not expected that the condition of this American company would get so bad so soon. However, there was one person who understood this situation—Ratan Tata. At one point Ford tried to humiliate him at his headquarters. Salt to steel maker Ratan Tata is no longer with us today, but the business culture he nurtured will remain an icon.
truck to car journey
In 1991, Ratan Tata became the chairman of Tata Group. At that time Tata Motors was mainly known for manufacturing trucks. Tata Motors entered car manufacturing in 1998 and launched the Tata Indica at the end of the year. It was the first modern car designed by an Indian company. Ratan Tata worked very hard for this, but when the car came in the market, it did not live up to the expectations and his dream started falling apart.
Indica has seen the highest number of breakdown complaints on the roads of Delhi and Mumbai, especially during the rainy season. In 1999, Tata Group planned to close the car business. Ratan Tata was disappointed and considered it a big blow for himself.
Then Ford Motors proposed to buy the car business of Tata Motors. Ratan Tata and his team went to Ford's headquarters in Detroit, where they were humiliated in a three-hour meeting. Ford Chairman Bill Ford asked Ratan Tata, “When you had no experience in making cars, why did you take this childish step?” He said they would do him a favor by buying his car business. Hearing this, Ratan Tata was very hurt and that very night he gave up the idea of selling the car business and returned to Mumbai on the very next flight.
Bill Ford said to Ratan Tata, “When you had no experience in making cars, why did you take this childish step?” He said they would do him a favor by buying his car business. Ratan Tata was very hurt after hearing this and that very night he gave up the idea of selling the car business and returned to Mumbai on the very next flight.
Ratan Tata had decided that now he would teach Ford a lesson. In 2008, Tata Motors reached new heights of success, while Ford's situation was deteriorating. In the same year, Ratan Tata proposed to buy Ford's Jaguar and Land Rover brands. At that time Ford was incurring huge losses from these brands. When Bill Ford came to Mumbai, he said, “You are doing us a big favor.” Ratan Tata did not close these brands, but made them successful.
Today Jaguar and Land Rover are among the world's most popular car brands, and Tata Motors is a leading international car company. Ratan Tata's name will be taken among the most respected industrialists of the world. Not as arrogant as Bill Ford. The Tata Group donates 66 percent of its earnings to charity. Goodbye Ratan Novel Tata.
Tags: ratan tata
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 10, 2024, 05:19 IST
The automotive field works at a fast pace, which can make it challenging to stay informed. However, HT is committed to providing timely updates on important developments within the auto industry. Below is a summary of the highlights from Wednesday, October 4.
The 2024 Nissan Magnite gets a revised front bumper, new grille and updated alloy wheels. The interior includes all-leather treatment and new features. It retains the two petrol engine options and is aimed at boosting Nissan's market presence in India. Prices start at 5.99 lakh ex-showroom.
(Read more: 2024 Nissan Magnite launched 5.99 lakh. Check out what's new)
Tata Motors has re-launched a limited edition CAMO version of the Punch SUV, featuring dual-tone seaweed green exterior and updated features. at cost ₹ 8.45 lakh ex-showroom, it retains the same engine options and offers a five-star safety rating, competing with the Hyundai Xcent and Maruti Suzuki Swift.
(Read more: Tata brings back Punch Camo edition SUV for a limited period. Check out what's new)
Suzuki Motorcycle India launches GSX-8R 9.25 lakh ex-showroom, added to its 800 cc platform lineup. Competing with rivals like the Honda CBR650R, it features a 776 cc engine producing 82 bhp, advanced electronics and attractive styling with unique LED DRLs.
(Read More: Suzuki GSX-8R launched in India 9.25 lakh, will compete with Triumph Daytona 660)
BMW M4 CS, Price Rs.1.89 crore ex-showroom, enhances track performance with better cooling, stiffer mounts and 542 bhp engine. It accelerates from 0-100 kmph in 3.4 seconds and has lightweight components for better handling.
(Read more: BMW M4 CS launched in India 1.89 crore)
Hyundai offers discounts up to Grand i10 Nios and Rs 58,000 Rs 55,000 off on i20 this October. Discounts are available on four models, including SUVs like Exeter and Venue, to boost sales amid a decline in the passenger vehicle segment.
(Read more: Exeter to Venue: Hyundai offers discounts of approx 80,000 on its cars in October)
Get information about upcoming cars in India, electric vehicles, upcoming bikes in India and cutting-edge technology that is changing the automotive landscape.
First publication date: 05 October 2024, 08:43 am IST
New Delhi. Tata Motors has introduced its updated Tata Punch in India. The feature list of this new compact SUV has been updated, which includes new features like 10.25-inch touchscreen and wireless phone charger. The company has added some new options to the variants of the Punch and has also discontinued some, although the design of its exteriors and interiors remains the same as before.
Its base variant is available for Rs 6.13 lakh ex-showroom, while the price of the top-spec trim has been reduced by about Rs 20,000 from Rs 10.20 lakh. Tata Motors is also offering a discount of up to Rs 18,000 on the car till October 31. The 2024 Tata Punch competes with cars like Hyundai Xcent, Citroen C3, Maruti Ignis, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
These new features were included
The 2024 Tata Punch now features a 10.25-inch touchscreen instead of the 7-inch screen, along with a new center armrest. It includes a wireless phone charger, Type-C fast charger, rear AC vents and other features. The dashboard has a silver finish around the AC vents, while the fabric upholstery of the seats has been updated.
Apart from this, the new Tata Punch includes features like a 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, height adjustable driver seat, automatic AC and cruise control. It also has features like automatic headlamps, shark fin antenna, auto folding ORVM, LED DRLs, rain-sensing wipers, connected car technology and push button start-stop. Electric sunroof with voice command is also available in the top variant. For safety, it includes features like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and rear parking camera.
Variant lineup and colours
The orange colour has been removed from the exteriors of the Tata Punch, while it is still available in the CNG version. Its variant lineup has also been updated.
Engine and Power
There is no change in the engine in the updated Tata Punch. It has a 1.2 liter 3-cylinder bi-fuel petrol engine, which generates 86 bhp of power and 113 Nm of torque. In CNG mode, this engine gives 73.4 bhp and 103 Nm of torque. For transmission, it also has the option of a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 5-speed AMT gearbox with regular petrol variants.
Tags: Auto News, Tata Motors
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 21, 2024, 19:10 IST
HT Auto provides instant updates on important events happening in the automotive sector in India and around the world. In view of the many recent changes in the automotive industry, below is a brief account of the major developments that took place on Saturday, September 14.
Volkswagen has released a teaser of a new subcompact SUV that will be the brand's new entry-level offering in the segment. Think of it as Volkswagen's rival to the Tata Nexon. However, the upcoming Volkswagen SUV codenamed 'A0' has been developed for the Latin American markets and will be first introduced in Brazil next year. If launched in India, the upcoming model will rival the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and other similar cars.
Also read: Teaser of new Volkswagen subcompact SUV released, will compete with Tata Nexon
Mercedes-Benz India is all set to further expand its electric vehicle lineup with its next offering, the EQS electric SUV. The company recently introduced the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV in the country and has now confirmed the launch of the regular EQS electric SUV on September 16, 2024. This will be the automaker's sixth electric offering in India apart from the EQA, EQB, EQE SUV, EQS luxury sedan.
Also Read: Mercedes-Benz EQS electric luxury SUV to launch in India on September 16
(Also read: Mahindra Thar Rocks arrives at dealerships, bookings unofficially open)
The new Mahindra Thar Rocks has started arriving at dealerships across India and bookings are open unofficially at select outlets. Test drives will begin from September 14. Price Priced at Rs 12.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the five-door version of the Thar offers two engine options, improved safety features and additional off-road technology.
Find out about upcoming cars in India, electric vehicles, upcoming bikes in India and cutting-edge technology that is changing the automotive landscape.
First Publication Date: Sep 15, 2024, 08:45 AM IST
Swift CNG Price: The country's leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki has finally launched its fourth generation Maruti Swift CNG in the Indian market. Earlier, the company had introduced its petrol variant, whose starting price was Rs 6.49 lakh. Now the company has also launched its CNG variant, whose ex-showroom price starts at Rs 8.20 lakh.
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The Hyundai Creta EV is one of the most awaited electric cars in India and is expected to debut at the 2025 India Mobility Expo in January next year.
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The Hyundai Creta EV is one of the most awaited electric cars in India, and is expected to make its debut at the India Mobility Expo in January next year. Hyundai has already introduced the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 electric cars in India. However, the Kona Electric could not achieve the desired sales numbers, while the Ioniq 5, being a premium offering, also did not bring in much numbers for the automaker. In this situation, the Hyundai Creta EV could be a crowd puller for the South Korean auto major.
The Hyundai Creta has been one of the most successful SUVs ever since it was launched in India. The automaker aims to capitalise on this successful SUV by bringing the electric Creta. Since the automaker is currently working on the Creta EV, here are some key details of the upcoming electric SUV.
Also read: Maruti EVX to Hyundai Creta EV: Five Tata Curve EV rivals you should wait for
The Hyundai Creta EV will be built on a modified version of the K2 architecture. Interestingly, the current ICE-powered Hyundai Creta is based on the K2 platform. Taking inspiration from the design philosophy of the Hyundai Kona Electric, it can be expected that the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV will share a wide range of design elements with its ICE sibling. However, it will also have a fair number of distinctive styling bits.
Also Read: Upcoming Cars in India in 2024
The Hyundai Creta EV will ditch the traditional front radiator grille in favour of a closed panel. There will be aero-alloy wheels to enhance aerodynamic efficiency, which plays a key role in ensuring optimum range for electric vehicles. Expect some distinctive EV-specific styling themes as well.
Given that Hyundai will position the Creta EV as an upmarket offering, the electric SUV will come with an interior that will carry the same vibe as the current ICE-propelled Creta. However, just like the exterior, it will have EV-specific styling features. The Hyundai Creta EV is expected to get a dual-screen setup combining a touchscreen infotainment system and instrument cluster. Other features will include a 360-degree surround view camera and a Level 2 ADAS suite.
There is very little information about the powertrain and specifications of the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV at the moment. However, it is expected that the upcoming Creta EV will be available in two different battery pack options. Also, it will offer a range of up to 500 km on a single charge.
Launched in early August 2024, the Tata Curve EV is available with two battery pack options – a 45 kWh unit and a 55 kWh unit, promising a range of 502 km and 585 km, respectively. The Hyundai Creta EV is also expected to match these figures.
Take a look at the upcoming EV cars in India.
First Publication Date: 29 August 2024, 12:27 PM IST
Mahindra recently launched the XUV 3XO in the Indian market. It is essentially a heavily updated version of the XUV300. Now, the brand has opened bookings for the XUV 3XO online on the website and at authorised dealerships as well. Mahindra has also announced that they will be commencing deliveries of the sub-compact SUV from 26th May. Having said that, interested customers can already check out the XUV 3X0 at the nearby dealerships.
The XUV 3X0 will be offered with three engine options. There is a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, a 1.2-litre petrol engine with direct-injection and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The direct-injection petrol engine puts out 128 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 230 Nm. The turbo petrol produces 108 bhp and 200 Nm whereas the diesel engine puts out 115 bhp and 300 Nm.
As standard, all engines come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox whereas the diesel engine also gets a 6-speed AMT. What’s new for the 3XO is the 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission that is now available on both petrol engines.
Also Read : Level 2 ADAS to dual-zone climate control: Mahindra XUV 3XO features explained
Mahindra is offering the XUV 3XO in nine variants. The prices start at ₹7.49 lakh and go up to ₹15.49 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. The main rivals of the XUV 3XO are the Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the upcoming compact SUV from Skoda.
Some of the highlights of the XUV 3XO are the panoramic sunroof which is the largest in the segment, there is a 360-degree parking camera, dual-zone climate control and auto hold with an electronic parking brake. Then there is the addition of Level 2 ADAS. The hardware is shared with the XUV700. Moreover, there are also three steering modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport.
First Published Date: 15 May 2024, 10:04 AM IST
Rapid surges in SUV sales have propelled the growth in rural market sales for all the carmakers in India, while demand for small cars has slumped sign
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Rural India emerged as the driving force behind the record-breaking sales of passenger vehicle sales in FY24. After registering 41.2 lakh passenger vehicles in the CY23, now the Indian auto industry has sold 40 lakh PVs for the first time in a financial year in FY2024, reported Mint. Interestingly, this growth came despite the sliding numbers of hatchbacks, which conventionally remained the driving force behind the Indian passenger vehicle market as well as the rural PV sales.
The report has stated that in FY24, the Indian passenger vehicle market registered a total of 42.3 lakh units and one in every two cars sold in the country were SUVs. The overall passenger vehicle market in the country witnessed an 8.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth over the 38.9 lakh cars sold in the previous financial year, which was another record for the Indian auto industry. Clearly, the sales of the passenger vehicles are on the momentum of creating incremental growth records over the last two financial years.
All the major car manufacturers in India reportedly witnessed all-time-high sales in rural markets in the last financial year. The demand and sales in the rural markets even overtook the urban markets, where the most preferred vehicles are SUVs.
Speaking on the rural demand and sales of Maruti Suzuki, the country’s most-selling passenger vehicle brand, Shashank Srivastava, executive committee member of Maruti Suzuki, said that sales for the OEM in the rural market were 7.87 lakh units, registering an 11 per cent YoY growth. He added that it was much better than the OEM’s urban market growth. “Rural sales of 7.87 lakh units this year, a growth of 11% year-on-year, have been much better than urban growth. Rural growth for the year is about 11% and urban growth is about 7%. And so, this is the highest-ever rural sales that we saw, which also should be a very good signal for the economy,” Srivastava said.
The second bestselling carmaker in India, Hyundai, attributed the rise in rural sales to multiple factors such as infrastructure development, increased access to information, and improved road quality across the country. Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor India, said that rural sales for the OEM, for which SUVs account for more than 60 per cent of its total sales, reached a record 19.44 per cent in FY24, up from the previous year’s 18 per cent. This means that nearly one in every five Hyundai cars sold in India in FY24 were sold in rural areas. This signified a burgeoning consumer base beyond urban markets.
For homegrown auto major Tata Motors, rural sales contribute around 40 per cent to the OEM’s total sales. In the past five years, Tata Motors claims to have witnessed a five-times increase in rural market growth. The report quoted a Tata Motors spokesperson revealing that models like Tata Nexon, Punch and Tiago were the company’s highest-selling passenger vehicles in the rural markets in FY24. The OEM also attributed this sales surge to models like Punch CNG and Tiago EV.
The SUV segment in the Indian passenger vehicle market has been growing at a rapid pace over the last couple of years and it was no different in FY24. In the last fiscal, one in every two passenger vehicles sold in India, were SUVs, becoming the driving factor behind the overall PV sales growth as well as the rural market also. The segment reportedly registered its sharpest growth of 28 per cent in the last fiscal, while sales of hatchbacks or small cars accounted for 28 per cent of the total PV sales volume. The sales of hatchbacks witnessed a 12 per cent slump in the just concluded fiscal, compared to the FY23.
This comes as a major shift in trend. Earlier, the rural markets mostly preferred small cars at the entry level, but over the last couple of years that seems to have changed with aspirations of rural consumers also rising. Speaking on this, Shashank Srivastava said that the percentage sales of smaller cars is still higher in rural areas, but the overall segment construct of the markets is converging. Key factors such as rising rural incomes, higher internet penetration and connectivity are leading this change, Srivastava said. He also said the exponential growth in rural sales isn’t an isolated phenomenon, but a culmination of various factors fostering economic buoyancy in the countryside. “There seems to be a convergence in the segment choices of the rural and the urban consumers with a small lag of time,” the Maruti Suzuki official added.
First Published Date: 02 Apr 2024, 07:01 AM IST
Despite the rapidly rising demand for personal mobility and SUV-mania across the country, India’s passenger vehicle segment is likely to see less than five per cent growth in the next financial year, forecasted Tata Motors. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Managing Director Shailesh Chandra stated that India’s domestic passenger vehicle industry is likely to see moderate to less growth in the next fiscal starting in April 2024. However, the Tata Motors official believes electric vehicle sales in the country will grow despite the slow pace of EV charging infrastructure development.
Chandra said that in FY23, the industry witnessed 25 per cent growth in the passenger vehicle segment, which is expected to become moderate in this financial year to about eight per cent. The Tata Motors official said that the industry is currently witnessing a high base effect and in the next financial year, there will be be slightly challenging situation for the segment. This challenging situation would result in the industry recording less than a five per cent growth rate in the next financial year, claimed Chandra during an analyst call.
In the last few months, automakers in India have announced price hikes for their respective passenger vehicle models citing increasing production costs due to factors such as surging raw material costs, inflation etc. Chandra hinted that there would be more such price hikes in the next financial year, which would pose challenges to the growth of passenger vehicles.
Citing various challenges for the growth of passenger vehicles in India, Chandra noted that while commodity prices have been stable in the past quarter or so, there is a risk that prices may go up going forward. He hinted that costs of crucial raw materials are going up, which may impact the prices of passenger vehicles negatively in the coming months.
Tata Motors is spearheading the democratisation of electric vehicles in India’s passenger vehicles segment. The homegrown OEM is leading the Indian electric car segment with more than 80 per cent market share. In the last few years, the segment has witnessed rapid growth thanks to various factors such as rising costs of petrol and diesel, narrowing price gap between electric and fossil fuel vehicles, availability of various government subsidies and incentives for EVs, tightening emission norms, growing awareness about environmental pollution and vehicular emissions’ impact on that, the launch of new electric cars etc. Tata Motors believes this growth momentum will continue in the next financial year as well.
Chandra said that in 2023, while the overall passenger vehicle industry grew eight per cent on a year-on-year basis compared to 2022, electric vehicle sales surged by 95-100 per cent YoY compared to the previous year. “I think this trend is likely to continue. So companies with stronger portfolios in CNG and EVs will grow,” Chandra said.
Interestingly, this growth projection comes despite the sluggish pace of growth for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which is considered a key factor for the growth of electric vehicle sales. “As far as EVs are concerned, I think the biggest challenge here is the pace at which the charging infra is growing. It is lagging behind the pace at which the EV adoption is happening,” Chandra noted further adding, “Given that the charging infra is crucial to the growth and expansion of EV market, we have gone for an open collaboration approach with all charge point operators as well as the oil marketing companies who are focusing on expansion of charging infra.”
First Published Date: 25 Feb 2024, 15:57 PM IST
The following table lists out the number of SUVs (or SUV-like cars) in a manufacturer’s Indian portfolio along with the number of SUVs with 4WD:
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*SUV here is meant to represent cars that are trying to capitalise on the SUV body style craze
Now, let’s look at each manufacturer one by one.
Mahindra have the largest number of 4WD cars in their portfolio and Jeep are the only mass market carmaker matching them in this regard. And if you factor in the Scorpio Classic and the Bolero, both of which earlier had a 4WD option, then the count goes up to 6 vehicles for a 75% coverage.
They are cashing in on this SUV craze with the largest number of SUVs on offer. The Thar perfectly sets the stage for the rest of their SUVs to borrow the rugged, go-anywhere personality. Then, having an option of 4WD in 4 of their vehicles makes it worth a look for buyers who absolutely need that capability.
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Maruti Suzuki are the next in line with 7 SUVs. The Jimny is their halo off-roader but even the Grand Vitara has the option of 4WD with a manual transmission. We’re pretty confident that it is a made-to-order kind of a variant with very limited production because of the scarce demand. But, having that option in the variant lineup helps the Vitara earn that SUV tag. This further spills into their lineup and it’s supposed to help them sell more vehicles with this SUV styling.
While you may laugh at someone expecting 4WD capabilities from a small car like the Ignis, it’s worth noting the Ignis does get the 4WD option in some international markets. So, it has more of those SUV genes in it than other mini SUVs like the Punch, Exter and the now-discontinued KUV100.
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After the addition of the Exter, Hyundai have 5 SUVs in their Indian portfolio. Only one of these has the option of 4WD. Even though they don’t sell the Tucson in large volumes, having it around gives the other SUVs in their portfolio that SUV character. After all, that’s what the buyers are buying into. And for a leading SUVs seller, the cost of having the Tucson in India is worth it, even if its numbers don’t add up to justify that investment.
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Counting the Hector and Hector Plus as 2 separate SUVs and similarly, considering Astor and ZS as 2 distinct SUVs, we end up with 5 SUVs in MG’s portfolio. While the number of vehicles with 4WD option still remains 1 — exclusive to Gloster — the others still at least have a true SUV to look up to. The 20% overall coverage of 4WD in MG’s SUV portfolio is the same as that of Hyundai.
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Toyota have 5 SUVs (or SUV-like vehicles) in India and 4 of them have the option of 4WD. Even if you ignore the ultra luxury Land Cruiser, they have a 75% coverage of 4WD in their SUV portfolio. In fact, the only car without 4WD is something most people would call an MPV as it borrows the Innova name plate. But, if Maruti Suzuki can dare to call the XL6 an SUV, then the Hycross certainly deserves the SUV tag in my books.
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True to their SUV DNA, Jeep are the only SUV manufacturer offering the option of 4WD with every vehicle they sell in India. 4 out of 4 — 100% 4WD coverage and a perfect score. The commitment to making SUVs doesn’t reflect as strongly as in Jeep’s India portfolio.
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Now, Kia are a tricky one. They have 2 SUVs and 1 electric car in the portfolio with 4WD but it’s not an SUV. Their halo product, the imported EV6 electric, has rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. So, I’d say, they’re still doing much better than the carmakers selling SUVs without showing any expertise with 4WD in India.
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I’m merging Skoda and Volkswagen into one heading as they’re not only part of the same VW Group of companies, but also because their scores are identical. They both have 2 SUVs in their Indian lineup — one for the mass market buyers and one for an elite group of buyers, who, might I add, are an extremely sensible bunch.
This group of buyers sees VW and Skoda’s expensive cars from a different angle. They’re like affordable luxury cars without the premium badge on the nose and an accompanying inflated price tag. From their angle, they aren’t buying expensive cars from mass market brands but luxury cars without the baggage tagging along.
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With that little off-topic nugget, let’s come back to the question at hand. They both have one 4WD SUV in their portfolio and one without. That’s a good 4WD coverage considering that they only have 2 SUVs each in India. The presence of the more expensive, larger SUV here lends the smaller one some of that SUV vibe.
Among car manufacturers that don’t have 4WD in any of their vehicles, we have Citroen (4 SUVs), Renault (2 SUVs) and Honda, Nissan, BYD with 1 SUV each.
Here, Citroen have the highest number of SUVs but no 4WD option. However, considering their limited reach in the country (in terms of sales and service outlets) and their age in the Indian market, it’s easy to digest the lack of 4WD cars. The rest of the brands have too few SUVs in their portfolio and not enough volumes to justify having a 4WD in the portfolio.
Also Read:
Note: If You Want to Buy a New Car, Calculate Car Loan EMI with V3Cars
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room.
If we count the XUV300 and XUV400 as two separate vehicles, the Astor and the ZS as two separate vehicles, then the Punch-Punch EV and Nexon-Nexon EV should also be considered as distinct vehicles.
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With that assumption, Tata Motors end up with a staggering 6 SUVs in their portfolio. NONE of these SUVs have the option of 4WD. They are also preparing the Curvv or Frest for launch in the near future. This is an SUV based on the Nexon’s platform and it’ll compete with the Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara and other SUVs from the C-segment. Since the Nexon itself only has a front-wheel drive powertrain option, it’s safe to assume that the Curvv/Frest will also support only a front-wheel drivetrain with a petrol/diesel engine.
Thus, soon, they will have 7 SUVs in their portfolio and none of them will have the 4WD or AWD option. This is a startling fact about a major SUV manufacturer in India as they don’t have the 4WD in the portfolio to demonstrate their capabilities. It puts me in a difficult position when I have to refer to their products as SUVs, when literally all of them are nothing more than glorified, oversized hatchbacks.
They don’t have a halo product in the lineup with 4WD to lend the SUV vibe to the rest of their crossovers. While I don’t expect them to have a 100% coverage for 4WD like Jeep (all vehicles have 4WD option), at least having one is not an unreasonable expectation. It becomes even more difficult to digest when you look at Skoda, Volkswagen and Kia. All of these 3 carmakers have at least 1 vehicle with 4WD in their Indian portfolio even though they only have 2 SUVs in their portfolio.
I sometimes wonder how we went from this:
to:
One of them is about reclaiming your life. With a 4-wheel drive, you probably could do things they didn’t even show in the video. The first ad encourages you to go outdoors and get dirty.
The other one is about indulging in luxuries…which is good too but on a different plane — and — when the features work as intended. Even if they do, the ad feels like it’s pushing you towards laziness as they demonstrate the ability to open the tailgate without using your hands. Now, I wouldn’t mind this with the Harrier, which doesn’t have a reputation to live up to. But in the Safari ad, with the tagline “Reclaim your life”, it feels totally out of sync.
While the old ad only teases a small part of what the car is capable of, the new one pretty much sums up its capabilities. Even in the real world, the Safari is not capable of doing anything the Kia Sonet diesel can’t. In fact, the Sonet diesel does a few things better than the Safari while costing several lakhs less. Once you go into deeper analysis, you’ll find out that the Sonet offers more features. Moreover, the features in Kia cars have a much higher probability that they will work as intended during the ownership.
Am I the only one feeling like the Tata SUVs these days no longer represent what they used to?
Also Read: 2024 Kia Sonet Facelift Variants Explained – Which Variant To Buy?
Note: Calculate Car Fuel Cost with V3Cars for India and Other Countries
The new Tata Punch EV takes things up a notch from its petrol-powered sibling and is based on the second-generation ActivEV platform promising about 3
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Tata Motors has confirmed the Punch EV is all set to go on sale on January 17, 2024. The Tata Punch EV was unveiled earlier this month and the model will be the brand’s most affordable electric SUV. The new Tata Punch EV takes things up a notch from its petrol-powered sibling and is based on the second-generation Pure EV platform called ActivEV. Pre-bookings for the new Punch EV are already open for a token of ₹21,000.
The Tata Punch EV looks different from its petrol counterpart getting styling updates as seen on the Nexon EV facelift as well as the Curvv concept. The connected LED DRLs at the front, closed-off grille, slim LED headlamps, all are intended to bring the model in line with Tata’s electric SUV family. The design theme will also be prevalent on the upcoming Harrier EV slated for launch later this year. Other notable changes include new aero alloy wheels, while the rear remains identical with the addition of the new dual-tone bumper.
Also Read : Tata begins production at new Sanand plant acquired from Ford
The cabin remains under wraps for now but the Punch EV is expected to get the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the Nexon EV facelift. It will also get the new UI, the two-spoke steering wheel with the illuminated Tata logo, a rotary drive selector and more. Expect the model to come with a new control panel for the HVAC unit.
On the feature front, the Punch EV is likely to get a 360-degree camera, leatherette seats with ventilation, electronic parking brake with auto hold, wireless charging, connected car tech, cruise control, a sunroof and more. Tata is also likely to bring the Arcade.ev app to the infotainment system allowing users to download interactive applications.
Built on the second-gen platform, the new Tata Punch EV will be available in standard and long-range versions. Specifications are yet to be revealed but expect to see 25 kWh and 35 kWh battery packs. Charging options will include a 3.3 kW on the standard and a 7.2 kW AC charger on the long-range model. Expect the long-range version to offer a range of about 300 km on a single charge. Tata says the new battery packs will be wider and will come with higher-density cells promising to improve efficiency by 10 per cent.
More details on the Tata Punch EV will be available on January 17. Deliveries should begin soon after the launch. The electric SUV will be sold via Tata’s new EV-only dealerships. Expect prices to be in the vicinity of ₹11-14 lakh (ex-showroom) and the Punch EV will primarily take on the Citroen E-C3 in the segment.
First Published Date: 12 Jan 2024, 20:01 PM IST
On a fine October morning in Delhi recently, I got to spend an entire day with the Tata Punch to figure out all the answers and assess what this new sub-compact SUV has on offer. A punchy name, after all, is just a name and the real proof of its capabilities lies out in the open world.
Read on for the extensive first-drive review of Tata Punch.
Tata Punch is being offered in four variants, or personas as Tata Motors likes to call these. Much of the details highlighted here would depend on which variant or persona one opts for. There is the base which is called Pure, followed by Adventure, Accomplished and the top-end Creative. It is a clever marketing strategy because even if you opt for the base model, all you have to say is “I bought the Punch in Pure persona”. Fancy!
There are multiple colour options on offer but not all variants get all colour choices.
| Tata Punch colour options | Pure | Adventure | Accomplished | Creative (Dual-tone roof) |
| Orcus White | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Black roof) |
| Daytona Grey | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Black roof) |
| Tropical Mist | Yes | Yes | Yes (Black roof) | |
| Atomic Orange | Yes | Yes | Yes (Black roof) | |
| Meteor Bronze | Yes | Yes (Black roof) | ||
| Tornado Blue | Yes (White roof) | |||
| Calypso Red | Yes (White roof) |
The Punch I received as part of the media test drives was in Tornado Blue shade with white roof and the top-end Creative variant. In terms of dimensions, obvious at that, the all variants are same and the Punch has compact numbers while still looking showing off an SUV-ish profile. The prominent front face with a familiar ‘Humanity Line’ on the grille, the LED DRLs and head light units that seem to have been taken straight from the Harrier and the fog light units on the front fender give it a muscular appeal.
On the side, the large arches over the 15- or 16-inch wheels – depending on the variant, striking alloy design, generous cladding on the doors and roof rails highlight the profile. The fact that this car also has doors which open at a 90-degree angle – mimicking a butterfly, visually speaking, means that getting in and out is quite easy, space permitting of course.
| Tata Punch dimensions | |
| Length (mm) | 3827 |
| Width (mm) | 1945 |
| Height (mm) | 1615 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2445 |
And the rear has a sleek demeanour courtesy arrow-shaped LED tail lights, double character lines on the trunk door and ‘Punch’ lettering here.
Open the trunk and there’s around 360 litres of boot space available even if the load angle is a little high and could make lifting heavy suitcases a bother. While the addition of a tyre puncture repair kit, tucked neatly on one corner, is great, the exposed wiring on the inside trunk section is shoddy. The support hinge for the parcel tray in my review unit came off at the slightest bit of tug. Word of advise – don’t put anything remotely heavy on the tray.
Punch has a rather compact cabin because of its rather compact dimensions. If you step in with expectations kept sky high, it is likely that the fall back to the ground will hurt. There’s no sunroof, no air purification system, no wireless phone charging option and no ambient lighting. What one can get, depending on the variant of course, are functional features for everyday use such as a cooled glovebox, infotainment screen, climate control, auto-folding ORVMs, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, four speakers with two tweeters, among other additions.
| Tata Punch variant-wise features | |||
| Pure | Adventure | Accomplished | Creative |
| All features of Pure and… | All features of Adventure and…. | All features of Accomplished and… | |
| Central locking with key | Floating 3.5 inch infotainment | Floating 7 inch touch screen infotainment by Harman with Android Auto and Apple Car Play | Projector HLs |
| Dual airbags | Four speakers | Four speakers, two tweeters | LED DRLs |
| ABS with EBD | Steering mounted control | Rear view camera | R16 Diamond cut alloys |
| IAC+ESS Technology | USB charging port | LED tail lamps | Roof rails |
| Brake Sway Control | ORVM with electrical adjustment | Front fog lamps | 7 inch TFT instrument cluster |
| Front power windows | All power windows | R15 hyper style wheels | Auto headlamps |
| 90-degree door | Follow me home HLs | Push button start stop | Rain sensing wipers |
| Flat rear floor | Anti glare IRVM | One touch down Dr window | Auto folding ORVMs |
| LED indicators | Central Remote Locking with Flip Key | Cruise control | Fully automatic temperature control |
| Black ODH | Full wheel covers | Driver seat height adjustment | Cooled glove box |
| Painted bumpers | Body coloured ORVM, ODH | Traction Pro (AMT only) | Rear wiper + wash |
| Door, wheel arch and sill cladding | Rear defogger | ||
| Puddle lamps | |||
| Rear seat arm rest | |||
| Leather steering & Gear knob |
One can also choose from a host of customization options when buying the Punch, a sign that Tata Motors does not want you to be limited in your desire for more features just because you chose a lower variant.
| Pure | Adventure | Accomplished | Creative |
| Rhythm Pack | Rhythm Pack | Dazzle Pack | IRA Pack |
| 3.5-inch infotainment screen | 7-inch touchscreen | 16-inch diamond cut alloys | IRA Connected Car technology |
| 4 speakers | 2 tweeters | LED DRLs | |
| Steering-mounted audio control | Android Auto/Apple CarPlay | Projector head lights | |
| Rear camera | A Pillar black tape | ||
The seven-inch infotainment screen inside my Persona was par for the course courtesy minimal reflections and good response to touch inputs. Apart from the usual audio, video and navigation details, it also puts out a driver scorecard which assesses how well (or not) you have been behind the wheel. The semi-digital driver display too was on expected lines and is positioned well behind the three-spoke, flat-bottomed steering with mounted controls. The steering, however, can only be adjusted for rake and not for reach.
Now there is a lot of hard plastics used all around the cabin of the Punch but frankly, I was expecting this. Because Tata is likely to price Punch aggressively, this is something that can be overlooked. What is impressive though is the sporty dashboard design and layout which seek to camouflage the plastic quality, especially the white patterned addition on the lower end of the dash -where the AC vents are at. Speaking of AC vents, these get an outline border in the same hue as the exterior body colour of the vehicle.
The cooled glovebox is a great addition and has plenty of space for storing either documents or bottles. Or both. A sectional divide here seeks to ensure that things don’t get jumbled.
Coming to the important bit about seat upholstery and spacing, Tata Punch tends to deliver on most counts. The seats are well cushioned and the quality of stitching appeared to be satisfactory. The driver seat can be adjusted for height which means even someone who may not exactly be considered tall will have a commanding view of the road ahead. I would have expected an arm rest, at least with the AMT I was driving, but there was none to be found.
The passengers on the back seat, well, have a bit of a hit and miss experience. The flat floor ensures that there is space for feet for the middle passenger but those on either side have limited space for their respective feet due to the rails on which the front seats sit. Leg room is rather limited and knee and head room is just about satisfactory. Three passengers sitting side-by-side on long journeys may be a bit of a cramped affair, also because there is no rear AC vent. Another miss is the lack of charging points for rear-seat passengers.
That said, it isn’t as if the rear section of the Punch is a deal-breaker for the family person. An armrest in the middle of the rear seats, high-seat position and good punchy speakers may still make this car a good proposition for small families.
Tata Motors has been consistently producing some of the safest passenger vehicles in India. Over the last few years, the homegrown carmaker has shown the world that made-in-India cars can achieve a Global NCAP five-star safety rating and one among them is the Tata Punch. This boxy SUV-ish car has received a five-star for adult occupant protection, while for child occupant protection, it has received a four-star rating.
A major factor behind this safety rating is the build quality, as the automaker claims. Besides that, on the safety feature front, the Punch gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, automatic headlamps, reverse parking sensors, ISOFIX anchors, autonomous emergency braking lane departure warning, electronic stability control, blind-spot detection etc.
Punch is made available only with a 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine. In case you want a diesel option, I advise checking out other Tata Motor options or picking one from the rival camp. But if the petrol engine is fine, there’s much to look forward to right here.
| Tata Punch technical specs | |
| Max Power | 86 Ps |
| Max Torque | 113 Nm |
| Engine | 1.2 Revotron petrol |
| Capacity, Cylinders | 11999 cc, 3 cylinders |
| Fuel tank capacity | 37 litres |
The majority of my time with the Punch was with the AMT and that worked well because majority of my time was also spent within city limits – Delhi to Gurugram to Delhi. In all, I drove this variant (oops, persona) for around 100 kilometres on mostly well-laid city roads with the occasional broken patches.
The key takeaway from the drive that I had was that the AMT, on expected lines, is a bit slow to take off. It has a familiar reluctance till around the 1,500 RPM mark and there the so-called rubber-band effect is very, very omnipresent. Any sudden plans for overtaking ought not to be sudden and will have to be well thought out before being executed. But once speed does build up and around the 1800 RPM mark, the Punch does justice to its name.
Cruising past around 60 KMPH and the Punch comes into its element. Its compact dimensions meant that weaving in and out of the extremely congested Delhi-Gurugram Expressway was an absolute delight. And because the steering set up is done right, it offers a good balance between heft and flexibility – a good combination to have for a car that may be doing duty in all kinds of traffic situations. There is also a traction-control mode on offer on the AMT which promises to get you out of slippery situations.
NVH levels are satisfactory although the groan of the engine does seep into the cabin when being excessively pushed. Keep it steady and the Punch manages to hint at a certain level of refinement that recent Tata cars have started putting in respective resumes off late.
But one thing Punch ought not to put on its resume is the control over body roll. Again, this is only when the vehicle is being pushed to perform but sharp turns at relatively high speeds means the driver and especially passengers at the rear will have to get a grip, literally speaking.
It was soon time for me to make the switch to the Punch with manual transmission and take my word for it – if you like the basic nuances of driving, you will love this car.
Now I am not sure if it is because I spent most of my time with the AMT or if the manual transmission is really that good but having a control over Punch’s punch made me wish that I had had more than just 20 minutes with this particular option. The gear shifts are short, crisp and nearly precise. And remember the bit about planning over-taking moves? No need! Downshift, press the pedal and the Punch will execute commands nearly instantly.
The manual gearbox is also what is likely to excel on roads less than perfect. I got a chance to test its ‘off-road’ capabilities and while it was in a controlled test track, I was mighty impressed. Sure, Punch is no 4X4 but its high-seating position does help in giving a clear view of the surroundings – crucial in tricky terrain that one may encounter. With a 20.3 approach angle, 37.6 departure angle and 22.2 ramp-over angle, Punch was nifty throughout the obstacle course. And because it has a claimed water-wading capability of 370mm, this car may also be capable of navigating through submerged roads of Indian cities during monsoon. My advice though? Don’t try it unless you absolutely must have to.
Overall, it is great that Tata Motors has offered AMT on the Punch and it does have some serious SUV traits. But it is the manual transmission that would be my preferred choice and the fact that the vehicle can ably manage challenging terrain – to its best ability – is a big, big plus over rivals.
Tata Punch looks more like an SUV than many of the sub-compact SUVs out in the market. This alone could bring many to Tata showrooms to check out the vehicle. But beyond the superficiality of looks, it has a long list of core strengths that could work in its favour.
Punch may not have an absolutely exhaustive feature list or the most comfortable drive and ride experience in the segment it wants to compete in. And yet, it packs in the features that an owner is most likely to make use of – including iRA connected app support -and is an eager machine on the move. The ability on less than perfect roads don’t come as a cherry on the cake but is a large and delicious part of the cake itself.
I expect Tata Motors to price the Punch very, very aggressively and assuming this happens, the SUV will surely be a very, very compelling option for buyers inclined towards this body type without having to break bank.
First Published Date: 09 Oct 2021, 08:58 AM IST
India is one of the fastest-growing electric vehicle markets in the world. Over the last few years, both legacy players and EV startups have been drastically transforming the landscape of the Indian EV industry. Electric two-wheelers dominate the Indian EV market, but car manufacturers too are introducing interesting products. While homegrown car manufacturers have been launching new electric cars in the country, foreign brands are also bringing their respective products into the segment.
In 2023, several carmakers, in both mass-market and luxury segments have launched some spectacular electric cars across different pricing slabs. Interestingly, like the fossil-fuel-propelled passenger vehicle market, the Indian electric car market is witnessing the rise of SUVs. In 2023, the majority of the electric cars launched in the country were SUVs.
Also Read : Year Ender 2023: The coolest concept cars unveiled this year
Here is a comprehensive list of the electric cars that were launched in India in 2023.
MG Comet EV is the most affordable electric car in India. This small boxy hatchback looks tiny compared to other models in the fray, but a perfect machine for in and around-city commuting. MG Comet EV was launched in 2023 at an introductory starting price of ₹7.98 lakh (ex-showroom). The electric hatchback threw a tough challenge to the Tata Tiago EV, the erstwhile most affordable electric car in India with its pricing. Design-wise, the EV is eye-catching on the exterior, while inside the cabin it looks simple yet very much urban at the same time. The Comet EV promises a 230 km range on a single charge.
One of the most noteworthy car launches in India in 2023 was the arrival of the Nexon EV facelift. Tata Nexon EV is the country’s bestselling electric car and the homegrown automaker simply ramped up the appeal of the electric compact SUV with the launch of the Nexon facelift, which incorporates a wide range of design and feature updates. The Nexon EV facelift comes available at a starting price of ₹14.74 lakh (ex-showroom), and it promises a 465-kilometre range on a single charge, while it can accelerate to 0-100 kmph in 8.9 seconds. It comes with V2V and V2L technologies.
BMW launched the electric avatar of the X1 SUV, christened as iX1 in India in 2023. The luxury EV was launched in the country at a price tag of ₹66.90 lakh (ex-showroom). BMW iX1 is the German brand’s fourth fully electric vehicle and is sold in India via the CBU route. Powering the electric SUV is a 66.4 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors. The electric propulsion system churns out 309 bhp peak power and 494 Nm of maximum torque. The EV promises up to 440-kilometre range on a single charge. It can reach 0-100 kmph in 5.6 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 180 kmph.
BMW i7 is an all-electric sedan that was launched in India in 2023 at a price tag of ₹2.50 crore (ex-showroom). The BMW i7 M70 xDrive is the brand’s first M-division electric car that was launched in India in 2023. Powering this luxury electric sedan is a 101.7 kWh battery pack that is paired with dual electric motors and generates up to a 560-kilometre range on a single charge. The electric propulsion system churns out 657 bhp peak power and 1,100 Nm maximum torque. This electric sedan can sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill position in just 3.7 seconds at a top speed of 250 kmph.
Mahindra XUV400 is the homegrown automaker’s first-ever electric SUV launched in India in 2023. The Mahindra XUV400 comes positioned in compact SUV segment and it competes with rivals like the Tata Nexon EV. Launched at ₹15.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Mahindra XUV400 is available in two different battery options and promises up to 456-kilometre range on a single charge. Available in EC and EL, the Mahindra electric SUV’s price goes up to ₹18.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Despite being a new entrant in the Indian passenger vehicle market, French auto giant Citroen was quick to launch an electric car in the form of eC3. The electric SUV comes priced from ₹11.50 lakh (ex-showroom) and it promises a range of 320 kilometres on a single charge, which is also the highest in its segment. Available in four different variants, the Citroen eC3 EV is powered by a 29.2 kWh battery pack that promises 320 kilometres range on a single charge. The electric SUV promises a top speed of 107 kmph.
Volvo C40 Recharge is the second electric car in India from the Swedish luxury car manufacturer after the XC40 Recharge. The electric car was launched at ₹61.25 lakh (ex-showroom). The EV competes with rivals such as Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The EV gets power from a 78 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors. The EV churns out 402 bhp peak power and 660 Nm of maximum torque. The EV is capable of running at a top speed of 180 kmph and can sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill position in 4.7 seconds.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the second electric car from the South Korean auto giant in the Indian market. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV has been launched in the country at ₹44.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The EV comes competing against the Kia EV6 but is more affordable than the rebadged sibling. Powering the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a 72.6 kWh battery pack, that promises a 631 kilometre range on a single charge. It gets a rear-wheel drivetrain churning out 214 bhp peak power and 350 Nm of maximum torque. The EV claims come with a fast charging technology that charges the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.
Audi launched the Q8 e-tron and Sportback e-tron in India in middle of 2023. The SUV and the Sportback were launched together, priced at ₹1.14 crore and ₹1.18 core (ex-showroom). The Q8 e-tron essentially came as a facelifted iteration of the erstwhile e-tron. Both the SUV and the Sportback were launched in two trims – 50 and 55, with range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge. Powering the 50 variant is a 71 kWh battery pack, while the 55 onbe gets a larger 114 kWh battery pack. The SUV has a maximum claimed range of 491 kilometres and 582 kilometres for the 50 and 55 variants, respectively, while the Sportback has a maximum range of 505 kilometres and 600 kilometres for the 50 and 55 variants, respectively.
Mercedes-Benz India launched the EQB 350 4Matic electric SUV in India in 2023, at a starting price of ₹77.50 lakh (ex-showroom). The luxury electric SUV was launched in the country replacing the previous EQB 300 4Matic that was launched in December 2022. The EQB is powered by a 66.5 kWh battery pack. The electric propulsion system onboard the SUV promises 288 bhp peak power and 520 Nm of maximum torque. These specifications are significant enhancements from the EQB 300 4Matic.
Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV was launched in India in 2023 after the EQS and EQB, joining the lineup as the brand’s third EV in the country. The Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV was launched here at ₹1.39 crore (ex-showroom). It competes with rivals like Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX1 electric SUVs. Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic SUV comes promising 550 kilometres range on a single charge. The SUV gets power from a 90.56 kWh battery pack that is paired with dual motors. The SUV can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 4.9 seconds at a top speed of 210 kmph.
First Published Date: 23 Dec 2023, 20:42 PM IST
India’s automobile industry is constantly evolving. People’s demands keep changing and manufacturers try to ensure that they are fulfilling the demands. The latest push in the industry has come in the form of safe vehicles. People are now well aware of the safety rating of the vehicles. What has helped in pushing safe vehicles is Global NCAP’s #safercarsforindia initiative. As part of this campaign, every year several cars that are being sold in India are crash-tested. This year also several cars were crash-tested and here are five cars that passed GNCAP tests with flying colours in 2023.
Tata Motors was the first automobile manufacturer that really started the movement about safe cars in India with the Nexon. However, they took a long time to crash-test the Harrier and Safari. With the facelifts, the manufacturer finally sent the SUVs to Global NCAP for a crash test and they scored the highest rating in the crash test. Not only this, the Harrier and the Safari are also the first vehicles to be tested by Bharat NCAP. Both the SUVs are based on Land Rover’s Omegarc platform so it makes sense that both SUVs also share the same safety rating and features.
Well, this came as a surprise to everyone. Hyundai Verna scored 5 stars in the Global NCAP crash test. It is the first made-in-India car from Hyundai to achieve five stars in the crash test. The new generation of Verna was launched in the Indian market this year and has been doing decent in terms of sales. The voluntary test for the Hyundai Verna was one of the last tests to be done by Global NCAP for India.
Also Read : Volkswagen to bring back physical buttons in new cars in era of touchscreen
Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia also scored 5 stars in the Global NCAP crash test. Both sedans come from the manufacturer’s India 2.0 strategy and are based on MQB-A0-IN. This is the same platform that is being used on the Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq which also scored 5 stars in a crash test.
First Published Date: 22 Dec 2023, 17:26 PM IST
Tata Motors has inaugurated its first EV-only dealership in Gurugram. The dealership will open for the general public on 7th January and it is located on Sohna Road. The manufacturer says that they will expand the network to 2-3 more cities where they sell the most number of electric vehicles.
Customers would be able to use fast chargers that will be available at these new dealerships. Tata has also announced that once the EV dealerships are up and running, they will stop selling electric vehicles from regular showrooms. Apart from this, all Tata EV showrooms will have workshops that will be exclusive to Tata electric vehicles, this information was already confirmed to us back in October last year when the manufacturer launched the Tiago EV.
Tata Motors currently sells the Nexon. ev, Tiago.ev and Tigor. ev in the Indian market. Nexon.ev and Tiago.ev contribute around 75 per cent of sales among all Tata electric vehicle sales. Speaking of Tiago.ev, 25 per cent of buyers of the electric hatchback are women. Tata aims to complete 2023 with about 70,000 EV sales.
Also Read : Nexon to XUV700: Top 5 Indian cars that got shot in the arm with GNCAP rating
Commenting at the inauguration of the new showrooms, Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “With insights gathered from over 1 Lakh Tata EV customers, we understand that the EV consumers seek a different kind of customer experience. They are sensitive to how the planet is evolving, very conscious about the cost of driving, and desire cutting-edge technology. This is in line with the new brand identity’s core values – sustainability, community, and technology. The new flagship showrooms are the first physical manifestations of this brand philosophy and we have mapped the customer journey accordingly. We want to empower our customers so our plans include the creation of a harmonious community space to facilitate customer gatherings/services, sustainability-focused workshops, and events for customers. These showrooms are not just about retailing EVs but they become TATA.ev community centres in Gurugram.
First Published Date: 21 Dec 2023, 15:22 PM IST
Tata Motors has announced that its Safari and Harrier SUVs are the first vehicles to secure a 5-star rating in Bharat NCAP’s crash test. Both SUVs had also scored five stars in the Global NCAP crash test on which Bharat NCAP is based on. The Harrier and Safari were recently updated and received mechanical as well as cosmetic upgrades.
Tata Harrier and Safari received 30.08 points out of 32 in Adult Protection and 44.54 points out of 49 in Child Protection. The SUVs were fitted with seven airbags out of which six are offered as standard across all variants, Electronic Stability Control, three-point seatbelts in all rows, seatbelt reminders for all passengers, ISOFIX child seat mounts and seatbelts with retractor, pretensioner, load limiter and anchor pretensioner.
The Harrier is priced between ₹15.49 lakh and ₹26.44 lakh whereas the Safari starts at ₹16.19 lakh and goes up to ₹27.34 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom. Both SUVs use the same 2.0-litre diesel engine that is sourced from Fiat. It produces 168 bhp and 350 Nm. The gearbox on duty is a 6-speed manual unit or a 6-speed torque converter transmission.
Tata Motors has now found one more reason to underline the safety credentials of its vehicles. “Bharat-NCAP is a significant step forward as it provides customers with a credible, objective score to evaluate the safety aspects of various vehicles. Informed customers taking optimal decisions will further foster the rising preference for safer vehicles in the country,” said Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. “We acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative efforts of the government, regulatory bodies, and the automotive industry in this pursuit. At Tata Motors, safety is at the core of our DNA and we are honoured to win this maiden Bharat-NCAP certification with an exemplary 5-star rating for two of our vehicles. We remain committed and will continue to work towards improving vehicle safety holistically.”
Also Read : Tata Nexon to Mahindra XUV700: How 5-star GNCAP safety ratings boosted these Indian cars’ sales performance
Bharat NCAP is a a star-rating system for crash testing cars that are available in Indian market specifically. As previously mentioned, it is based on the Global NCAP crash test system and will rate vehicles from zero to five, depending on the safety provided in case crashes. The test involves subjecting the test vehicle to crashes from multiple sides. Cars are voluntarily being sent by manufacturers and so far, the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia and of course, Tata Motors have sent a number of their respective models for the test.
On the result of Safari and Harrier, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, once again underlined the significance of Bharat NCAP. “Bharat NCAP is India’s independent, atmanirbhar voice on vehicle safety. It is benchmarked to the best-in-class global standards and the Bharat-NCAP vehicle rating system is designed to advance road safety and vehicle safety standards beyond mandatory regulations,” he said. ” I’m delighted that the first ever vehicles being certified today with the highest achievable 5-star rating, are both from Tata Motors. I congratulate them on award of this coveted certification with the highest possible ratings and for continuing to enrich their legacy of introducing the safest vehicles on Indian roads.”
First Published Date: 20 Dec 2023, 20:35 PM IST
India will get a number of new electric cars in the next 12 months as the EV segment continues to grow at a rapid rate. Several carmakers have already confirmed launch of their new electric vehicles in 2024. Some of these models will help top carmakers enter the EV fray in the country which currently has less than seven per cent contribution to overall vehicle sales in India. Key names among the expected electric cars to hit Indian shores include the likes of Maruti Suzuki’s first EV – the eVX, Tata Harrier EV among others. Here is a quick look at list of brand new electric cars to launch in India next year.
2024 will be a landmark year for Maruti Suzuki, the largest carmaker in India, as it plans to put its first ever electric car eVX to production. The carmaker has confirmed that the eVX electric SUV, first showcased at the Auto Expo held in January this year, will be manufactured from Suzuki Motor’s Gujarat facility at Hansalpur starting next year. It is expected to be launched some time in 2024. The eVX electric SUV will come with a range of around 550 kms in a single charge. It will be equipped with a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. When launched, it will take on the likes of MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona among others.
Tata Motors has confirmed that its flagship Harrier SUV, which recently received a major facelift, will get its electric version next year. The Harrier EV made its debut at the Auto Expo earlier this year. Built on the Gen 2 EV architecture, the Harrier EV will come with V2L and V2V charging facilities. The Harrier EV has been spotted testing on roads ahead of its launch within the next few months. However, very little is known about what this electric SUV will offer in terms of range, performance and features.
The second electric vehicle from Tata stable expected to make India debut next year is the Punch. The smallest SUV from the carmaker already has the ICE and CNG version on sale. When launched, it will become the fourth car in Tata’s lineup to offer ICE, CNG and EV version of the same model. The Punch EV is expected to come with the same Ziptron technology that is doing duty in other Tata EVs like Nexon. The size of the battery could be the ones used for Tigor EV or the Nexon EV. Tata Punch EV could offer range of more than 300 kms in a single charge in the long-range version.
The third electric car from Tata Motors expected to be launched in 2024 is the Curvv EV. Tata is likely to launch the EV version of the SUV after its ICE version makes its debut. The Curvv EV will be based on Tata Motor’s X1 platform which will be heavily reworked to become EV ready. According to reports, the expected range of the Curvv electric SUV will be between 400 kms and 500 kms in a single charge. It is not clear if Tata Motors will use the same battery the Nexon EV facelift uses.
The Korean auto giant is expected to expand its EV lineup in India with the introduction of its three-row electric SUV EV9. Based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 stands more than five metres in length. It promises to offer range of up to 541 kms in a single charge. It is expected to be offered in two variants. Globally, the EV9 is powered by a 150 kW electric motor that can help it sprint 0-100 kmph in 9.4 seconds. The RWD version of the EV will come with a more powerful 160 kW electric motor. The EV has an 800-volt electrical architecture that enables the EV to charge at ultra-fast speed. Kia claims the EV9 can run 239 kms with just 15 minutes of charging.
Mahindra and Mahindra will also expand its EV lineup for India with the launch of an electric SUV based on the XUV700. This will be Mahindra’s second electric offering after the XUV400. Mahindra had showcased five upcoming electric SUVs during an event held in United Kingdom in August last year. To be launched under the Born Electric brand, the XUV.e8 is expected to come with dual electric motor as well as all-wheel drive technology. Mahindra is likely to offer at least 60 kWh battery pack with the XUV.e8 EV besides adding features like level 2 ADAS, 5G connectivity among others.
First Published Date: 18 Dec 2023, 14:20 PM IST
Kia Sonet facelift SUV has been unveiled for India with host of changes. The Korean carmaker has upgraded the SUV which competes in the sub-compact segment. In its new avatar, the 2024 Sonet facelift comes across a more tech and feature-loaded version with sportier looks. Among its rivals, Tata Nexon also received major overhaul just a couple of months ago. It will be an interesting contest between the two when Kia launches the new Sonet next month.
Kia has announced that pre-bookings for the Sonet facelift SUV will start from December 20. According to HT auto sources, the booking amount for the Sonet facelift will be ₹25,000. One can book the SUV through the nearest dealership or through Kia’s official website. Kia Sonet was first launched in India back in September, 2020. Sonet is Kia’s second best-selling model in India. Till November, the carmaker has sold nearly 2.83 lakh units across the country. Since then, this will be the first major update for the SUV that will aim to renew its rivalry with the likes of Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300 among others.
With choices galore in the segment, which one should be your pick? Here is a quick comparison between 2024 Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon, two of the models which received updates most recently, to make an informed decision.
The new Sonet has grown marginally compared to its predecessor in terms of dimension. The SUV now stands 3,995 mm in length and 1,790 in width which are similar to the existing dimensions of the Sonet. However, the height of the SUV has increased by 32 mm. It now stands at 1,642 mm instead of 1,610 mm earlier. The wheelbase of the Sonet facelift SUV also remains same at 2,500 mm. Kia will offer Sonet SUV in as many as seven trims. Unlike Tata Motors, Kia has not changed the nomenclature of the variants. There are 11 colour options to choose from, including the new Pewter Olive and two dual-tone exterior themes. Kia will also introduce the Matte Graphite colour exclusively for the X-Line trim.
Compared to Sonet, the new Nexon is similar in size but marginally wider by 14 mm. However, the height of the Nexon is slightly smaller than the new Sonet. Tata Motor offers the Nexon SUV in 11 variants. When it comes to choice of exterior colours, Nexon offers only six against 11 offered on Sonet.
Sonet embodies every essence a Korean car manufacturer stands for – feature-rich and loaded with new technology. The Sonet is the first SUV in its segment to be offered with ADAS technology, a feature none of its rivals have yet. This will give Sonet an edge over the likes of Nexon. The ADAS tech is offered with 10 features including lane keep assist, lane follow assist and lane departure warning. There are overall 25 safety features in Sonet, including six airbags as standard, which are more or less similar to what Nexon offers.
In terms of creature comfort, Sonet again stands apart among most its rivals, even Nexon. The updated cabin now comes with a dual digital screen, each measuring 10.25 inches, serving as infotainment system or driver display. Overall, Kia claims there are 25 segment-first features inside Sonet. These also include the likes of ventilated front seats, electric sunroof, air purifier, Bose sound system and power-adjustable driver seat.
Under the hood, Kia has kept things unchanged for the Sonet facelift SUV. There are three engines, including petrol and diesel, offered as choices. The 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine is capable of churning out 82 bhp of power and 115 Nm of peak torque. The engine will come mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The second option is the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Mated to either a 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT transmission, the engine can generate 118 bhp of power and 172 Nm of peak torque. The sole diesel engine is a 1.5-litre unit which can churn out 114 bhp of power and 250 Nm of peak torque. The only change here is the return of the 6-speed manual gearbox for diesel variants. It also gets a 6-speed automatic gearbox which is a better option than Nexon’s AMT unit.
As far as the new Nexon is concerned, the SUV comes powered by a more powerful 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit that can generate 118 bhp of power and 170 Nm of peak torque. The engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCA transmission units. The 1.5-litre diesel engine is equally powerful as that of the Sonet. Besides the AMT, Nexon diesel also comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
First Published Date: 15 Dec 2023, 11:32 AM IST
Tata Motors’ electric vehicle wing Tata Passenger Electric Mobility has tied up with as many as four EV charge point operators in India to bolster the EV charging infrastructure across the country. With the help of operators like Chargezone, Glida, Statiq and Zeon, Tata Motors plans to install around 10,000 new electric vehicle charging stations in the country in the next two years. The carmaker has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with these charge point operators today (December 11).
Tata Motors is currently the leading manufacturer in the electric passenger vehicle segment. The carmaker has already sold more than 1.15 lakh electric vehicles across India. Tata offers three electric cars in its portfolio which includes the likes of Nexon EV, Tigor EV as well as Tiago EV. The carmaker is expected to launch at least three more electric vehicles within the next one year. Being the leader of the EV segment, Tata Motors also has one of the largest EV charging network across India with the help of Tata Powers.
The MoU signed between Tata Motors and the four charge point operators will use telematics insight from the carmakers and identify locations to set up the new EV charging stations. This would mean Tata Motors will be able to take help from these operators to install EV chargers at places where its electric vehicles sell the most or is most frequented by Tata’s electric vehicle owners.
Chargezone, Statiq, Zeon and Glida, also formerly known as Fortum Charge Drive India, are some of the leading EV charger operators in India. They have a combined EV charging network of around 2,000 stations spread across various cities in the country. The MoU with Tata Motors will extend the number to 12,000 within the next 12-15 months, said the carmaker. Balaje Rajan, Chief Strategy Officer at Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “This collaboration will benefit from Tata Passenger Electric Mobility’s unparalleled EV usage insights, coupled with the CPOs’ innovative charging solutions and entrepreneurial spirit, and create 10,000+ additional charging points in the country by FY25.”
Tata Motors and these four charge point operators will also work on a smart payment gateway for its customers to make it easy for them to recharge and pay. They are planning to roll out RFID cards which will be accessible at any of the charge points operated by these companies. Customers will also be able to avail benefits of loyalty programs as well as access dedicated customer care number.
Currently. Tata Motors has nearly 5,000 public EV charging stations across the country in collaboration with Tata Power. Tata Motors and Tata Power have also launched EZ Charge Card, a touch-based RFID card. Tata Motors has also tied up with Bharat Petroleum to set up 7,000 chargers over the next year.
First Published Date: 11 Dec 2023, 18:05 PM IST