The latest offering from Tata Motors is positioned as an entry-level SUV, sitting below the Nexon in the hierarchy. Vivek SrivastavaThe Marketing Head, PV & EVs, Tata Motors expressed confidence in the co-existence and flourishing of Nexon and Punch.
He said, “There was no on-ground product under the sub-compact category that had genuine SUV features. With Punch, Tata has tried to bridge the gap.” Available in four trims, the Punch comes with a traction control system, which offers a ground clearance of 187mm. 3840mm long and 1800mm wide, the Punch’s lightweight off-roading gen is reinforced by a 370mm water wading claim.
There is no denying the overall expansion of the SUV market. According to Shreevats, globally the SUV market has grown across the globe and in the past few years, the market size here in India has doubled to over 30%.
The Punch is the second car on the ALFA architecture. “Large parts of the development cycle of Altroz and Punch were going on simultaneously,” Shreevats said.
Launched in early 2020, the development story of Altroz was halted by Covid. However, the company has registered strong sales recently. With a production of over 1 lakh units, Altroz has secured over 20% position in the premium hatchback segment in FY12. The price of the Punch is expected to be revealed in mid-October and is expected to be similar to that of the Altroz.
“With Punch, we expect to attract a wider range of customers. The catchment area is expected to be wider. Our expectations from Punch are high,” said Shreevats.
The Altroz and Punch underpin the same ALFA architecture. Standing at 3.8-metres in length, the Punch is smaller in dimensions than the Altroz. According to engineers, some changes have been made to reduce platform length, increase ground clearance for higher drive height and longer suspension travel to withstand rough roads.
The Altroz offers a range of powertrains – 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated and turbocharged petrol and 1.5-litre diesel. The hatchback only comes with the option of a manual transmission. The Punch, on the other hand, comes mated to a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine mated to both manual and AMT gearboxes.
“The 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated engine is the most sought-after powertrain in our hatchback. Diesel penetration is increasingly subject to challenge, especially in the compact segment. What we think will be the most popular option, we are moving forward, Shreevats said.
Shreevats did not rule out a diesel option for Punch. “However, if we see the possibility of increasing the volume with the optional powertrain, we will do so,” he added.
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