Tata Altroz turbo petrol variant with DCT could launch on the market soon as test runs go in full swing.
Tata Motors has started testing the much-awaited turbo petrol variant of the Altroz premium hatchback. The new Tata Altroz was launched earlier this year at a starting price of Rs 5.29 lakh ex-showroom. At the time of its initial unveiling, the Indian brand had promised that a higher turbo-petrol variant is in the works. Now, a few new spy images confirm the news.
It was previously thought that the turbo petrol Altroz would be coming under the wing, JTSV or Jayem Tata Special Vehicles. However, the partnership between Coimbatore-based Jayem Automotives and Tata Motors — which gave us the Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP — is on the verge of being dissolved. There has not been an official statement on this even though it has been confirmed that the existing JTP models will not be receiving BS6 update.
Coming back to the Tata Altroz turbo petrol model (which could sport a different name once it makes an official debut), the car will be powered by the same 1.2-litre Revotron three-cylinder engine, with the addition of a turbocharger. This essentially makes it the same power plant which comes in the Nexon petrol, but the engineers at Tata Motors could keep it at a different state of tune.
In the latest BS6 avatar of the Tata Nexon petrol, the arrangement makes 118bhp (up by around 10bhp) and 170Nm of torque. The JTP twins, which employ a similar setup, churns out the same figures. On the other hand, the regular Tata Nexon petrol variant loses the turbocharger and makes 85bhp and 113Nm of torque.
However, the main highlight of the turbo petrol Altroz is not its engine, but its transmission choices. While a 5-speed manual transmission would be standard, the Tata Altroz turbo petrol would be the first product from Tata Motors to have a DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission). Compared to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), torque-converter or an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission), DCT units are usually associated with faster shifting and better throttle response — even though there are exceptions.
To an extent, the desirability and performance of a DCT unit depend on the manufacturer itself. For instance, Volkswagen makes one of the best DCT systems in the business in the form of DSG (Direct-Shift Gearbox) and employs it in the Polo GT TSi hatchback; a direct rival to the Tata Altroz turbo petrol version. It is worth the wait to see if Tata’s DCT system can perform as well as the popular names.
