Future of driving: How Tata Motors' new turbo-petrol will change the game
Delhi : Tata Motors has slowly and steadily created a solid SUV range, and its presence at the Auto Expo 2023 confirmed its intentions with the Avinya concept SUV, the Harrier EV, Sierra, and Curvv. While most of them were displayed in electric vehicle form, Tata also revealed the introduction of two new gasoline engines that will power some of its upcoming vehicles. These engines differ from Tata's Revotron series of engines, which are currently found in vehicles including the Tata Punch, Tata Nexon, and Tata Altroz.
The two new engines are petrol turbocharged engines with 1.2- and 1.5-liter displacements. The three-cylinder, 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol (TGDI) engine produces 225 Nm of torque and 122 horsepower of power. The four-cylinder, 1.5-liter TGDI engine has a rated output of 165 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. The engines can run on a mixture of 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline because they are BS6 and E20 compatible.
The new concepts displayed at the Expo would use these engines, according to Rajan Amba, vice president of sales, marketing, and customer service at Tata Motors, who was speaking on the sidelines of the Auto Expo 2023.
"These new engines are lightweight, unquestionably more efficient in terms of fuel consumption and pollutants, and they provide more power and torque in high and low end ranges. The new ideas we have, like those in the Tata Curvv and Sierra, will be introduced to them. Since we have a new plant, these automobiles will start with them, says Amba.
Amba also discussed Tata's readiness for BS6 phase 2, also known as the real driving emissions (RDE) requirements, which will be implemented in April 2023, in addition to the company's new engines. Given that the majority of Tata's vehicles have five-star safety ratings and are among the safest vehicles in India, he claims that the company is prepared for it and is already compliant. He also emphasises that the company would continue to place a high premium on safety.
Cars' limited lifespan is a plus.
Amba believes it's all good from a net zero carbon neutrality standpoint that cars have a limited lifespan, especially in the Delhi-NCR region where diesel cars are limited to 10 years and petrol cars to 15 years with mandatory disposal.
Manufacturers have one option in terms of emissions. But in the end, even the consumers must mentally shift and make those decisions. For the benefit of all of our futures, for our children and our grandkids, some of these things, such as 10-year life, will ensure that the loop towards green mobility is getting tighter and tighter, says Amba.
Where does Tata see itself prioritizing its investments given that it has a portfolio that includes diesel, CNG, petrol, flex-fuel, and electric vehicles?
"I believe that each company has a unique attitude on prioritizations," adds Amba. We are in the mass market, we are FAME compliant, and we most definitely have net zero aspirations at the forefront of our minds. Approximately Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh was the average price of a small automobile in 2016, but that price has since increased to Rs 9.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. To make those decisions, we must consider our finances in addition to a number of other considerations.
"The exhibition allows us to highlight all of the decisions we have made, including the CNG side and new engines. The direction of the future, in my opinion, is positive.
