The Tata Punch is a crossover city car (A-segment) manufactured by Tata Motors Cars since 2021. Positioned as the smallest SUV of the brand below the Nexon,[1] the Punch is built on ALFA-ARC platform shared with the Altroz hatchback.[2][3]

Tata Punch
Overview
ManufacturerTata Motors Cars
Also calledTata Punch.ev (electric)
Production2021–present
AssemblyIndia: Ranjangaon, Pune (FIAL)
DesignerMartin Uhlarik
Body and chassis
ClassCrossover city car (A)
Body style5-door SUV
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
PlatformALFA-ARC platform
RelatedTata Altroz
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,445 mm (96.3 in)
Length3,827 mm (150.7 in)
Width1,742 mm (68.6 in)
Height1,615 mm (63.6 in)

Details

edit

The concept was revealed as H2X compact SUV (codenamed Hornbill) at the 89th Geneva International Motor Show in 2019,[4] followed by the near-production HBX concept at the Auto Expo 2020.[5][2] On 23 August 2021, the vehicle was revealed with the name Punch. The car was unveiled on 4 October 2021.[6] It is powered by a 1.2-litre Revotron three-cylinder petrol engine which is shared with the Altroz, Tiago, and Tigor.[7]

Tata H2X concept, which previewed the Punch

Tata Punch.ev

edit
 
Tata Punch EV in public charging station

The Punch.ev was unveiled on 5 January 2024.[8] The Punch is offered in 2 variants: Punch.ev and Punch.ev Long range. Both of them will be offered in 5 trims – Smart, Smart+, Adventure, Empowered, and Empowered+. Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEM), a subsidiary of Tata Motors and the pioneer of India’s EV revolution launched its first Pure EV architecture. The Punch.ev is the first product to be based on its recently introduced, advanced Pure EV architecture – acti.ev, which stands for (Advanced Connected Tech-Intelligent Electric Vehicle) and will support future products from the TPEM portfolio. [9]

Safety

edit

The Tata Punch[10] is equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features designed to enhance passenger protection. These include dual front airbags, an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and rear defoggers. The vehicle also features rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). For added safety, the Tata Punch is fitted with ISOFIX anchors for securing child seats.

Global NCAP

edit
2021 Tata Punch RHD (2 airbags)
Global NCAP scores (2021)[11][12]
Adult occupant stars      
Adult occupant score 16.45/17.00
Child occupant stars      
Child occupant score 40.89/49.00

The Tata Punch was crash-tested by Global NCAP in 2021 (similar to Latin NCAP 2013) in its most basic safety specification of two airbags, anti-lock brakes and ISOFIX anchorages. It achieved the maximum five star rating for adult protection, showing a stable passenger compartment in the frontal offset crash, negligible pedal intrusion and no rupture of the footwell. Every body region showed either acceptable or good protection in the frontal crash. The Punch is fitted with a pretensioner even for the lower anchorage of the driver's seatbelt, which helped Tata demonstrate (using a complex Euro NCAP sled test[13]) that sharp structures behind the fascia would not increase risk of injury to the knees of differently sized occupants.

The Punch was also required to pass an ECE regulatory side impact test to achieve the maximum five star rating. The Punch is not fitted with side airbags but could pass the requirements of this minimum regulatory test.

Tata chose to place both child occupants facing rearward, following the latest i-Size recommendations. This helped the Punch achieve a full score for dynamics. However, Global NCAP noted that the Punch offers only a lap belt in the rear centre seat, which limited its score because this type of seatbelt cannot fit a universal child seat. This type of restraint can also seriously injure the spine or abdomen of an adult occupant in a crash.

The Punch does not offer electronic stability control, and it does not offer body or head protecting side airbags.

Bharat NCAP

edit

In 2024, the Punch.ev received 5 stars for adult occupants and 5 stars for toddlers from Bharat NCAP (similar to Global NCAP 2023, based on Latin NCAP 2016).[14]

Sales

edit

458,000 units were sold since launch in October 2021 eventually resulting in Punch being the best selling passenger vehicle between January and September 2024.[15]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tata Punch SUV revealed; to sit below Nexon". Autocar India. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Upcoming Tata micro SUV first teaser revealed". Autocar India. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Tata HBX micro-SUV officially unveiled as Tata Punch, takes aim at key segment". Hindustan Times Auto News. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Tata H2X micro-SUV concept: A closer look". Autocar India. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Tata HBX Concept Explained | Auto Expo 2020". CarWale. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Tata Punch SUV Unveiled, To Be Launched On October 20". Moneycontrol. 4 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Tata Punch mini-SUV showcased in production form ahead of festive season launch". Tech2. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. ^ Rizvi, Aariz (5 January 2024). "Tata Punch EV Revealed, Based On New Pure EV Platform". Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Tata Punch EV Launched in India Starting at Rs 10.99 Lakh with a Remarkable 421 km Range". Motorlane. 23 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Tata Punch 2024 Price in India (November Offer) - CarBike360". www.carbike360.com.
  11. ^ "Tata PUNCH - 2 AIRBAGS" (PDF). static1.squarespace.com.
  12. ^ "Tata Punch achieves 5 star rating for adult protection". 14 October 2021.
  13. ^ "EUROPEAN NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME - SLED TEST PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSING KNEE IMPACT AREAS" (PDF).
  14. ^ "TATA PUNCH.EV – bncap".
  15. ^ Ajit Dalvi (21 October 2024). "Tata Punch sells 458,000 units since launch, is best-selling PV in January-September 2024". Autocar Professional India. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
edit