New 1.5‑Litre NA Engine Joins Tata’s Powertrain Offerings, Sibling to Turbo‑DI Mill

While Tata Motors’ 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine has been delayed to the market – it was showcased at Auto Expo 2023 – the Indian brand has already begun work on a new 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit. This new engine is going to see duty in a number of upcoming models, from the Tata Sierra to a new compact SUV.

• New 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol delayed as Tata wants to get it right
• 1.5 NA engine will help the Tata Sierra be competitively priced  

New Tata petrol engine line-up

Tata to have 5 petrol engines across its model range

Tata currently has three petrol engines across its model line-up – a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated (NA) unit, a 1.2-litre turbocharged one, and a 1.2-litre direct-injection turbocharged mill.

As mentioned above, the introduction of 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine has been delayed as sources tell us Tata Motors wants to get it right. This 4-cylinder engine will be offered on the Harrier, Safari, and the upcoming Sierra, in multiple states of tune, depending on the model and variant.

With the introduction of the 1.5-litre NA engine, Tata will have a total of 5 petrol units across its model line-up.

Entry-level Tata Sierra expected to be equipped with the new 1.5 NA petrol engine

The new naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine, likely a derivative of the direct-injection turbo unit, is expected be used on entry-level Sierra variants, providing buyers with an aggressive starting price and the same options as Korean rivals.

The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are on sale with 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol and 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine options. The Grand Vitara also comes with a 103hp 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol eigne on entry-level variants. 

Higher petrol variants of the Sierra will be powered by the 1.5-litre direct injection turbocharged unit seen at Auto Expo 2023. At the motor show, the engine on display was said to produce 170hp and 280Nm of torque, though a different states of tune maybe offered on the Sierra.

With inputs from Ketan Thakkar