Tata mulls expanding Racer performance brand

Tata Motors is considering expanding the Racer brand to include more models, and more powertrain options. Having launched the Tata Altroz Racer just last month, the Indian brand is gauging the market’s response to the hot hatch. If there's demand and interest, the Racer performance brand could expand to high performance EVs too, according to Tata Motors' MD, Shailesh Chandra.

That Tata has been working on the Altroz EV is known – the concept was first showcased way back at the 2019 Geneva motor show – but now, there might be a sportier, Racer-badged version as well. Speaking to Autocar India, Chandra said, “We are working on an electric version of the Altroz. So there could be an electric hot hatch version, too.”

In fact, the MD went on to say that Tata is open to more models under the Racer performance brand: “We believe that this is a very niche category that we are experimenting with. If this works well, there will be a more holistic thinking on how we will deal with the performance brand. But, electric is just part of it, we [also] have some engine options going forward.”

This means that Tata Motors could position the Racer brand in the same way as Hyundai India’s N Line performance arm, provided there is demand from consumers. The Korean brand currently has three N Line models – the i20 hatch, Venue compact SUV and the Creta midsize SUV.

This is the second time that Tata Motors is mooting a performance brand. The Indian company had introduced JTP-badged, go-faster versions of the Tiago and Tigor in 2018. These models were made by JT Special Vehicles (JTSV), which was a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Motors and Jayem Automotives, and there were plans to bring out a Nexon JTP as well. However, response to these niche products was low, and they were taken off the shelves by April 2020 when BS6 norms came into effect. To upgrade these niche variants to BS6 was too costly.  JTSV became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors in October 2020, and according to sources, that there won't be any JTP models anymore.