Exclusive: Tata Motors readies petrol-engined Super Ace

Tata Motors is well known for producing diesel-engined trucks. Now, it wants to offer petrol-engined commercial vehicles in regions where such vehicles have a good market. So, it has prepared a petrol version of the Super Ace, its small commercial vehicle, with a 1-tonne payload capacity. A petrol variant of India's first mini-truck, the Tata Ace could also be launched. These vehicles are primarily being developed for export to markets like the Middle East and some countries in Asia and Africa.

According to sources, the small commercial vehicles have borrowed the petrol engines from Tata’s passenger vehicle business unit and tuned further to meet the requirements of a commercial vehicle. The Super Ace has been fitted with a 1.4-litre engine borrowed from the Indigo. The Ace will be powered by the 624cc, two-cylinder engine as found in the Nano.

The new additions are expected to add to Tata Motors' LCV export volumes. During the April 2014- February 2015 period, Tata Motors sold 160,000 light commercial vehicles. Eighteen percent, or 24,628 units, out of that figure were sold in export markets.