After Punch.EV What? Deep Dive Into Tata's Electric Car Plans
Tata Motors has entered the next phase of its electric vehicle expansion plan in India after the launch of the Punch.EV facelift. The company will be slowly moving from mass-market EV dominance to a premium and global EV push. Tata Motors will be investing Rs 18,000 crore till FY30 to execute its EV dominance plan. As part of this plan this year, the company will be launching four new EVs in India, and here are the details of them all.
To sit below the Tata Harrier.ev and above the Curvv.ev, Tata Motors will be soon launching the Sierra.ev in India. The electric version of the already super hit Sierra will be rivalling the Mahindra BE6, Hyundai Creta Electric and other EV SUVs. The Sierra.ev will help Tata Motors in segment expansion.
In terms of the design, the Sierra.ev will look almost the same as the Sierra ICE. However, it will boast some EV specific design cues to differentiate between the two. The SUV will feature the same panoramic rear glass area, flush door handles and the bold SUV stance. As for the changes, it will get a closed-off grille, unique EV front fascia, new alloy wheels and minor rear design tweaks.
On the inside, the Sierra.ev will be almost the same as the ICE model. We will be seeing the same triple-screen dashboard setup, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, rear sunshades and Head-Up Display (HUD). Other notable highlights will include ambient lighting, powered tailgate, 12-speaker JBL audio with Dolby Atmos and connected car tech.
The Sierra.ev will be based on the ARGOS platform, which is a multi-energy platform. Coming to the battery pack options, the Sierra.ev is expected to come offered with 55 kWh and 65 kWh units. And it could also get a range-topping 75 kWh as well. As for the range, it will be around 600 km, with RWD and the AWD (dual motor) variants.
The AWD Sierra.ev will use Tata’s QWD (Quad Wheel Drive) tech, which is offered with the Harrier.ev. Tata Motors will be manufacturing the Sierra.ev at the Sanand plant (Gujarat), and it will share the production line with ICE Sierra. It is believed that the Sierra.ev will be priced in the range of Rs 20-30 lakh.
By the middle of the year, Tata Motors will usher in the facelifted Tiago.EV, which will continue to be one of the most affordable electric cars on sale in India.
Apart from refreshed styling on the outside and a makeover on the inside, the Tiago.EV Facelift will offer new features as well. A sunroof could be the part of the equation.
BaaS is expected to be a big addition, and lifetime battery warranty with a boosted battery capacity is something to watch out for.
In order to rival the recently launched Mahindra XEV 9S, Tata Motors later this year will be launching its premium three-row electric SUV, the Safari EV, in India. It will become the flagship EV SUV from the brand. The Safari EV will be based on the Acti.ev+ architecture.
Battery pack options of the Safari EV will include a 65 kWh unit offering a range of 500 km and a 75 kWh unit offering a range of up to 600 km. It will also get up to 120 kW fast charging capability. Coming to the performance and power figures, the RWD version will make around 235 hp and 304 Nm of torque.
Meanwhile, the AWD (dual motor) version will make 390 bhp and 504 Nm of torque. It will be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in under 7 seconds, which will be very impressive. Other notable highlights will include multi-link rear suspension, Frequency Dependent Dampers and other updates.
The Safari EV will also boast a set of new bumpers, an EV-specific grille and slightly revised headlights and taillights. Features will be borrowed from Harrier.ev, including ADAS suite, connected tech (IRa), climate control, V2L (Vehicle-to-Load), V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) charging, transparent chassis view, auto park assist, summon mode and others. It will be priced in the range of Rs 25-35 lakh.
Tata Motors later this year will also be launching its new premium sub-brand, Avinya, in India, and its first launch, the Avinya EV, will help the brand in entering the global luxury EV space. The Avinya EV will be based on JLR’s 800V EMA (Electrified Modular Architecture), which will be shared with future Range Rover EVs.
As per the reports, it is expected to get 80 kWh (base) and 100 kWh (top variant) battery pack options, offering a range of 500-720 km on a single full charge. The 800V EMA will support ultra-fast charging of 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes using 350 kW DC fast charging.
Tata Motors has described the design theme of Avinya as a “Living room on wheels” concept. It will boast a flat floor and a massive interior space. On the outside, it will offer an MPV-SUV crossover styling and silhouette. The emphasis with the Avinya will be on cabin space, comfort and a lounge-like experience. Pricing of the Avinya will be around Rs 40 lakh to Rs 60 lakh, making it the most expensive offering from Tata Motors.