Tata Motors showcased the Altroz Racer as the sportiest version of the Altroz hatchback yet at last year's Auto Expo. It made a reappearance at this year’s Bharat Mobility Show with slightly different looks, but Tata didn't share any launch plans. However, we can now confirm that the sportier Altroz will indeed go on sale in the coming weeks.
Tata Altroz Racer to get 120hp turbo-petrol
One of the biggest highlights of the Altroz Racer is its 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that's the same as the Altroz iTurbo. However, it produces 120hp and 170Nm here – 10hp and 30Nm more than the iTurbo. In fact, it’s in the same state of tune as offered on the Nexon SUV. The Altroz Racer will likely be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox, instead of the 5-speed manual that is found in the iTurbo.
This should put it squarely against the i20 N Line. The latter also gets a 7-speed DCT transmission, although an automatic gearbox is not expected on the Altroz Racer.
Tata Altroz Racer exterior, interior highlights
There will also be a few exterior updates to mark out the sportier hatchback – the show cars boasted a dual-tone paint scheme along with twin racing stripes on the bonnet and roof. It also had ‘Racer’ badging on the front fenders, a slightly revised grille and a new design for the 16-inch alloy wheels.
The updates to the equipment list will be even more compelling, with the Racer getting the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen seen on newer Tata SUVs. Segment-first ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, a heads-up display and a voice-assisted sunroof are also expected. Some of these features could also be offered on the regular Altroz at a later stage. On the cosmetic front, expect new leatherette upholstery with contrast stitching and coloured accents on the dashboard. The Racer line-up will also get six airbags and ESC as standard.
All this, however, will come with a decent increase in prices, and apart from the i20 N Line, the Altroz Racer could also see competition from the turbo-petrol variants of the Maruti Fronx, depending on the pricing.