Altroz Racer will come with 120hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine and several new features.
At the Auto Expo last year, Tata Motors showcased the Altroz Racer for the first time as the sportiest version of the Altroz hatchback yet. It made a reappearance at this year’s Bharat Mobility Show with slightly different looks, but no launch plans were shared still. This version of the Altroz gets a more powerful turbo-petrol engine and several exterior and interior updates, and we can now confirm that it is indeed set to go on sale in the coming weeks.
- Altroz Racer will be new top-spec variant in the line-up
- Will likely be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox
- Will also get larger touchscreen, ventilated seats and more
Tata Altroz Racer to get 120hp turbo-petrol
One of the highlights of the Altroz Racer is its powertrain, and although it’s the same 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine as the Altroz iTurbo, it now makes 120hp and 170Nm of torque – 10hp and 30Nm more than the iTurbo. In fact, it’s in the same state-of-tune as it is 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, althugh 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 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. The Altroz Racer will come equipped with the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen seen on newer Tata SUVs. Segment-first ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, head-up display, and a voice assisted sunroof are also expected. The Racer lineup will also get six airbags and ESC as standard. 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.
All this, however, will come with a decent step up 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.
Also See: