India has always had a dearth of sportier cars on a budget. The Hyundai i20 N-Line is currently the only hatchback available with sporty underpinnings. Well, that is set to change as Tata has debuted the Altroz Racer at the Auto Expo 2023. As the name suggests, the Racer is a more powerful version of the Altroz and a much-awaited variant of the hatchback by enthusiasts across the country.
Table of Contents
- Tata Altroz Racer Styling Changes
- Tata Altroz Racer Specifications
- Tata Altroz Racer Expected Price And Launch Date
Tata Altroz Racer Styling Changes
At first glance, the Altroz Racer looks like just another Altroz. The changes to how the hatchback looks are not major in comparison to the standard car. For starters, there’s a black roof, black hood and a blacked-out grille. The wheels are the same as the standard car but finished in black for that stealth appearance. The most striking design feature is the two white racy stripes that start from the bonnet and extend onto the roof.
The cabin also features some sportier bits in the form of red accents throughout the dashboard. The seats get red and white stripes hinting at the sporty intentions. As for the features, the hatchback will get a sunroof and a bigger touchscreen infotainment system than the standard car.
Tata Altroz Racer Specifications
What justifies the Racer tag are not the cosmetic changes but what’s lurking underneath where the changes are not just skin deep. Tata has plonked the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine from the Nexon that develops 120PS and 170Nm. These are solid figures, especially when you compare them to standard Altroz’ output figures. Even the Altroz i-Turbo produces only 110PS and 140Nm.
However, the highlight here is that Tata is offering a 6-speed manual gearbox with the Altroz Turbo. Its sole rival, the i20 N-Line is offered with the option of a dual-clutch automatic and an IMT gearbox. That said, there are no other changes to the chassis and suspension. The Altroz in its current form itself is a dynamically competent hatchback and hence more power is always welcome.
Tata Altroz Racer Expected Price And Launch Date
Tata is yet to confirm whether the Altroz Racer will launch soon or if it was just showcased to gauge response. Rumour mills do suggest a launch soon since the Hyundai i20 N-Line is a successful model eating up a major chunk of the enthusiast market share. When launched, expect it to carry a premium over the current Altroz i-Turbo’s price tag which ranges between Rs 8.35 lakh and Rs 9.55 lakh (ex-showroom).
Image courtesy: ZigWheels
