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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Punch EV First Drive Review – The Star, Reborn!

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      Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewThe new Acti.ev dedicated electric car platform debuts with Tata Punch EV and will be used with future Tata electric carsIndia is no stranger to Tata Motors. The company has been a staple automaker in India catering to a wide variety of customers ranging from PVs to CVs. But the company’s latest launch is one that is poised to be a trendsetter, a benchmark for vehicles to follow under the Rs. 15 lakh mark. Say Namaste to Punch.ev that is Tata Motors’ most ambitious launch in the recent past.Tata Punch EV – Perfect “Urban Vehicle”?Among the many first-ever titles within India and the world, Tata Motors has added a new title to its name as it launched India’s first dedicated EV platform in the form of Acti.ev, debuting with Punch.ev. Tata Punch EV has been priced between Rs. 10.99 lakh and Rs. 14.49 lakh (ex-sh) and these are killer prices considering everything Punch EV packs.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewTata Motors product team explained how the company threw stereotypes of segment-wise features out of the window and aimed to nail a perfect Urban runabout vehicle. In that regard, we can see a lot of components that Punch EV (marketed as Punch.ev) shares with much pricier and premium siblings like Nexon, Harrier and Safari. Even design language is shared with these pricier siblings to establish a family DNA that is distinctly and impactfully, a Tata.Exterior design changesFascia is all new and gets sleek connected LED DRLs with sequential LED turn indicators. The center LED light bar incorporates welcome and goodbye animations along with battery charging status when plugged in. Headlights are LEDs housed in projectors, accompanied by LED projector fog lights with a cornering function.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewFront charging port Is a first for Tata and is possible due to the Acti.ev dedicated electric platform. This unlocks charging convenience, something that can’t be said about Nexon.ev with a charging socket at rear left quarter panel. The charging cap opens electrically too, which is a nice touch. Closed-off grill and air vents in lower bumper to cool brake rotors are other notable elements.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewSide and rear are identical to regular Tata Punch with an IC engine, except for the new 16-inch alloy wheels with Punch EV. These wheels are wrapped with low rolling resistance tyres from Apollo. Tata is providing all four disc brakes with Punch EV due to added performance from its electric powertrain.New-age interiorsFuturistic and prominent exteriors are perfectly complemented by the interiors with cutting-edge gadgetry that is shared with more premium Tata products. Dashboard layout is identical to its ICE counterpart along with door panels. But the overall ambience has lifted several notches with all the new elements that Punch EV now gets.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewWe’re talking about a fluidly fast and crisp 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.2-inch instrument screen that grabs all the attention. New leather-wrapped steering wheel is shared with Nexon facelift and gets illuminated Tata logo. Centre console is all new too and features a new touch and toggle style climate control panel. Further down, we get a rotary gear selector with an integrated circular display. This is where you find the Sports and Eco driving mode buttons along with an electronic parking brake with auto hold button.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewNew infotainment screen supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with 360° camera feed and Arcade.ev app suite. It currently offers a few OTT and video streaming services to watch when the car is standing still or moving at a tortoise pace. For safety reasons, of course. Tata promises that this is an evolving platform that will host more functionalities with OTA updates. Punch EV offers Jio Saavn audio streaming too, with a 1 year subscription. The Harman-branded music system could have offered more bass with a dedicated subwoofer.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewThe new instrument screen is not only a digital TFT unit, it is fully configurable too. Offering functionalities that cars of rival brands from two segments above, don’t offer. It shows all the vehicular data including range, speed, drive modes, regen modes, TPMS data, trip data, blind spot assist and many more. The most impressive functionality has to be full-screen navigation on instrument cluster for a driver-friendly approach.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewOther notable features on the inside include good quality leatherette upholstery with front ventilated seats. Despite the fact that all equipment and features on Punch EV are designed to pamper front seat occupants, Acti.ev dedicated electric platform has unlocked more room for rear passengers. Kudos to Tata Motors for offering a sunroof as an optional extra for additional Rs. 50K, something that other manufacturers should probably take note of.Powertrain, specs and dynamicsTata’s new Acti.ev platform on Punch EV is offered in two versions – Standard Punch EV and Punch EV LR (Long Range). Standard Punch EV gets a 25 kWh battery pack powering an 80.5 bhp and 114 Nm electric motor and claims 13.5 seconds to 100 km/h and 315 km range on a single charge. LR model packs a larger 35 kWh battery pack powering a 120.7 bhp and 190 Nm electric motor and claims 9.5 seconds 0-100 km/h, 140 km/h top speed and 421 km range on a single charge.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewCar reviews these days are all about the features and gadgetry with very little mention of car’s actual dynamics. Since Tata Punch EV is debuting the new Acti.ev dedicated electric car platform, I would like to talk more about car’s dynamics.Tata had arranged for a small off-road and handling course to demonstrate dynamic capabilities of Punch EV. Where Tata had arranged for multiple off-road scenarios including rock beds, step climbs, hill descent, water wading, inclined driving, dug potholes and more.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewPunch EV has an approach angle of 19°, departure angle of 28° and ramp over angle of 15.1° along with an unladen ground clearance of 190 mm. All of this ensured Punch EV cleared all these off-road obstacles with flying colours. The 360° camera feed on a large infotainment screen helps a lot in tackling tough terrains and urban jungles alike. What impressed me more than off-road behaviour was on-road behaviour. Looking at Punch’s tall-boy design, one wouldn’t usually associate it with good dynamics. But Punch EV with Tata’s new Acti.ev platform will surprise you, for sure.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewIt is not just that electric cars have heavy batteries on the floor taking centre of gravity lower. The Acti.ev dedicated electric platform is designed and developed to be significantly stiffer than non-dedicated platforms shared with ICE counterparts. Tata’s product team personnel who accompanied me on this dynamic testing, asked me to trust the car and push it as hard as I could around corners. And to my surprise, Punch EV donning Tata’s new Acti.ev platform handled exceptionally well for the price bracket. You can carry a lot of speed into a corner and Punch EV delivers with a surprising amount of composure.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewAdded performance and dynamics need extra stopping power and this is where rear disc brakes come into the limelight. If Tata Motors offered a RWD version of this car with a manual handbrake and called it Punch EV Racer, it would make for a tempting hot hatch proposition too. Steering wheel gets paddle shifters to cycle between the three regen modes. L3 offers the strongest regen, but it doesn’t stop the car completely. One pedal driving is under consideration, as revealed by Tata’s product team. We couldn’t draw opinions on range with this brief media event, though.Safety and other attributesTata is offering 6 airbags as standard fitment with Punch EV and the car now gets 3-point seatbelts for all occupants. Other safety attributes include all four disc brakes, TPMS, ESP and the likes. Where crash safety is concerned, Tata Punch EV doesn’t share the same 5 star crash rating as ICE Punch as it is an all new platform. Given that it is a Tata product, we expect nothing less than stellar crash performance by Punch EV.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewThere is very little to fault with Tata Punch EV. Whatever tiny little niggles we could find are easily forgivable considering Punch EV’s aggressive pricing. However, I would have liked it if the car’s rotary gear selector dial didn’t move when the car’s gearbox hadn’t shifted due to partial brake application at user/driver’s end. Traditional gear selector stalks for automatic vehicles don’t physically move when gearbox hasn’t shifted.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewA similar thing happened to me during the brief media drives where I slotted to D, from R with partial brake application. Gear selector dial rotated, but the gearbox didn’t shift to D because of the partial brake applied at my end. I thought the car would move forward. However, it moved backwards. This is not exactly the car’s fault and prospective buyers will get used to it in a day or two and then it feels like second nature.ConclusionMany of you must have witnessed a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. With Punch EV, Tata Motors is doing the impossible by pulling a hat out of a rabbit by offering a surprisingly well-packaged product at a jaw-dropping price point. If you’re buying any car across any segment within Rs. 15 lakh price bracket, we would highly recommend Tata Punch EV over most of the other offerings. It’s that good of a package. 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      in Electric Cars

      MG Comet EV Review: A Comprehensive Analysis of the New Mini Smart Electric Car

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      MG Comet EV ReviewComet EV by MG: Bold Design, Unconventional Aesthetics, a New Segment in the Indian Automotive Market
      Creation of a new segment in the automotive market is a daunting task. It’s not something that can be achieved easily. Over the past 15 years, EMs have attempted to break into this market with varying degrees of success. Despite their efforts, none of them have been able to make a significant impact. And success has been elusive. Reva kicked up a storm but when the dust settled, there were none to be seen. Add to this the lack of infrastructure and government support in the early days.
      Today, the market poses new challenges. And we’re excited to see that MG has decided to make a serious attempt by introducing Comet to the Indian market. I had a chance to get behind the wheel during the media drive, and could sense the excitement building up within me as I took the Comet through City streets.
      MG Comet EV: The Quirky Electric small car with Smart Features
      The Comet is a unique vehicle that can be categorised as a 3-door mini hatchback, kei-car, micro car, micro EV, or quadricycle-like. In my experience, when I first saw it, I couldn’t help but compare it to the compact cars in Japan, Kei cars. It had a similar vibe, but with a fully modern tech upgrade. In the Indian market, the Comet’s dimensions may remind one of dated cars like Tata Nano and Mahindra e2O. Despite its small size, it boasts seating capacity for 4 adults, which is impressive. The Comet draws power from a 17.3 kWh battery pack and claims to offer a range of 230kms, which works well for daily city commutes.
      Along with its small dimensions, Comet has a highly polarizing design. Some might find it cute, stylish or clutter-breaking, while others may not appreciate its unconventional aesthetics. In my experience, the young are excited by its unique design and expressed their interest in driving one. On the other hand, older folks were genuinely curious. The design may appeal more to Millennials or GenZ customers, while an older audience might ask more questions due to its size. This makes sense as the older gen had fewer car owners, and the only car in the family had to be a family car that was to occupy the garage for years. Times have changed.
      MG Comet EV Prices – bookings open 15th May 2023. Deliveries start soon after.
      In my experience, I found the Comet to be quite visually appealing. Its functional tall boy design and neo-modern design theme stand out. The horizontal light bars at the front and rear are eye-catching and add a unique touch to the car’s overall look. Additionally, the illuminated MG logo at the bonnet is a nice touch that adds to the car’s stylish appearance.
      MG Comet EV: A Micro Car that Seats Four
      MG Comet is a 3-door mini hatchback/car, featuring two wide doors on each side. The car’s neo-modern design is carried over into the interiors, with a white and light grey color scheme that gives the cabin a spacious appearance. The generous glass panels allow ample natural light to enter the cabin, creating an airy and open feel despite the car’s compact size. However, the light colors used in the interior might require regular cleaning and maintenance, especially in polluted and dusty city environments.
      Comet offers a decent seating capacity with front seats spacious enough to accommodate regular-sized adults. However, in my personal experience, I found the seats lacking in comfort and could have benefited from better upholstery. On the positive side, Comet provides steering rake adjustment to tailor to one’s comfort, although there is no reach setting available.
      MG Comet EV Launched
      To access the rear seats, one needs to fold down the front seats and climb in. The co-passenger seat has a one-touch tumble and movement functionality, although it takes around 2-3 inputs. Getting in from the driver’s side is a bit more challenging, though. The back seats can comfortably accommodate two adults for short drives of around 30-40 minutes. However, anything beyond an hour could be a little difficult, as the lack of thigh support might make it uncomfortable for longer journeys. As for the boot space, it is almost non-existent. The rear seats have a 50:50 split and can be folded down to create room for two large suitcases.
      In terms of features, as expected from an MG, Comet comes with a decent list of creature comforts. It boasts a 10-inch all-digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility), i-Smart functionality, and much more.
      MG Comet EV Launched
      Some key call-outs would be the unique Apple iPod Shuffle inspired steering mounted controls, which caught my attention and added a touch of quirkiness to the overall design. The voice command feature is a great addition, as it is not only tuned for English but also Hinglish, making it more user-friendly for the Indian market. The manual AC is decently powerful and does the job of keeping the cabin cool in most weather conditions.
      MG Comet EV: The Urban Car That’s Fun to Drive
      Comet is a perfect fit for city commutes, and MG is not shy about calling it one. The electric hatchback is equipped with three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sports, with each mode providing a faster acceleration than the previous one. However, even the Eco mode provides enough power for most in-city maneuvers, and switching to Sports mode may not be necessary for overtaking other vehicles. The Comet’s electric motor generates 42 PS of power and 110 Nm of torque, which is impressive for its size and intended use.
      MG Comet EV Review
      The Comet is stable when driven in a straight line, but it can feel a bit shaky when pushed to its limits due to the small 12-inch wheels. It’s best to adopt a cautious driving style and avoid any sudden or aggressive maneuvers. The steering feedback is decent, and the brakes have good bite and stopping power.
      When it comes to the NVH levels, you may find yourself wishing for better insulation, particularly from a well-known brand like MG. The road noise can be considerable, and the whirring of the electric motor is also clearly audible. Moreover, the horn feels as if it’s placed right inside the cabin, which is partly true since the car’s compact design practically leaves no space for a long bonnet.
      MG Comet EV Review
      MG Comet compact car: The Perfect Fit for City Commutes
      MG claims that Comet has a certified range of 230kms. However, as with most range claims, they come with an ideal conditions disclaimer, and we don’t think that the practical range will go beyond 160-180 kms. In our driving experience, we managed a range of around 120 kms, which included considerable idling (stopping to film and shoot with AC on during the not yet peak Delhi summer heat), and generous use of the Sports mode.
      The range itself may not be much of an issue as Comet is being marketed as a regular city EV. However, the lack of fast charging capability is a major drawback. MG is offering a 3.3 kW charger, which can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 5 hours, while a full charge takes 7 hours. With public fast charging infrastructure coming up in key cities, the absence of fast charging functionality could be a disadvantage for Comet owners.
      MG Comet EV Review
      The Comet offers dual front airbags, ABS + EBD, ISOFIX mounts, TPMS, and an IP67 rated battery, which are all good safety features. However, we should note that as of now, there are no crash test reports available for the Comet.
      MG Comet EV: The Stylish Micro Car that everyone’s talking about
      There are several positives about the Comet, although there are also some areas where it falls short. Firstly, the indicated range of the car doesn’t seem to vary much when switching between different drive modes. Additionally, the NVH levels could be improved with better insulation. The lack of fast charging capability is questionable, especially considering the current availability of public fast charging infrastructure. Lastly, the 12-inch wheels don’t inspire much confidence in the driver.
      MG Comet EV Review
      Despite the mentioned shortcomings, the Comet is a practical urban car that can be a suitable option as a second vehicle in a household with a larger ICE sedan or SUV. It may be a choice as a first or only car for younger folks who prefer a comfy and practical ride over a 2W.
      In my opinion, the Comet from MG is an excellent option for those who typically drive solo (drives to office daily) or with just one passenger (school run) and have a daily driving route of around 40-50 km. This could take care of a quick round for daily chores too. When I was in the market for a new car, I was specifically looking for something that was affordable and practical, and the Comet seemed to tick all the boxes.
      MG Comet EV Launched
      It’s impressive that the introductory starting price point of approximately 8 lakhs is going to attract many. As someone who prioritises cost-effectiveness, has a preference for electric cars, and doesn’t require a large vehicle, the Comet from MG could be a choice.
      MG Comet has the potential to change the way we view cars in India, emphasising practicality, affordability, and convenience of a smart and small electric car for city driving. As someone who priorities efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, I think the Comet is an excellent choice for anyone who shares these values. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Citroen C3 Electric Review, Test Drive Report – Your Next EV?

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      Ahead of launch next month, we got a chance to test drive the new Citroen C3 electric – Here is why we think eC3 has the potential to make Citroen a mass market brand in IndiaCitroen C3 Electric ReviewLast Year in Goa when we were attending Citroen C3’s Media Drive, most journalists had questions about the lack of an Automatic Gearbox option on the C3. Stellantis’ Senior Management had confirmed that they intend to bring in an automatic at a later date.While most of us drew the conclusion that Citroen will bring in an AMT or an AT on the C3, not many of us would have expected that the first automatic C3 in India would actually be on C3’s electric version. Within 6 months of introduction of C3 in Indian market, Citroen has now unveiled the eC3, basically, the electric version of C3. We were invited for a short test-track drive of the eC3, and here are our first impressions of the electric hatchback.C3 EV Exteriors – Are they any Different?Aesthetically, the eC3 looks almost identical to the C3. Citroen’s team informed that they have used the same body shell of the ICE powered C3 on eC3, as it helps with costs (economies of scale). So, please don’t get surprised when you find a fuel lid at the rear left of the car. Unlike most conventional EVs, it doesn’t even get a closed front grille, so even that differentiating factor can be removed.Some of the key changes on its design include the ‘e’ badges on front doors, a charging port on front right fender and lack of a tail-pipe. Citroen also has included some new color options on the eC3, however, in the plethora of color combinations on offer, it wouldn’t be justifiable for the larger masses to remember the differentiation. Obviously, the easiest differentiator on the road, will be the green number plates which the eC3s will carry.Citroen C3 Electric ReviewOur opinion on C3’s/eC3’s design hasn’t changed. It is quirky yet it still manages to avoid being classified as polarizing, and over the period of time, grows over you.Citroen C3 Electric Review – DashboardWhat’s on the Inside?Once you step inside, you get a very familiar cabin (just that of the C3). However, the gear lever is now gone and there is a nice and elegant drive mode selector. Added benefit – more space in the already roomy cabin.Citroen has turned a little kinder and has added some additional features compared to the C3 – for example, now the cabin gets manual day-night interior rear view mirror. The battery pack is placed under the seats, which has helped the boot to carry a space of 315 litres. Its closest competitor, the Tiago EV offers a space of 240 litres in its boot.Citroen C3 Electric Review – SeatingWhat powers it?In terms of specs, the eC3 gets a 29.2 kWh battery pack which has a max power output of 57 PS and 143 Nm of peak torque. ARAI certified mileage happens to be 320 kms, however, we don’t think that the real-world range will go beyond 250kms, which is very decent for a car in this category. There is also an Eco mode on offer, which as the name suggests – limits the acceleration and helps with a longer range cover.The naturally cooled battery pack can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 57 minutes via fast charger. Interesting bit here is not the speed of charge, but Citroen’s claim that you can fast charge your car, every time, and it won’t impact the battery’s life in a negative way. A home charging mechanism via a 15 AMP plug point can charge the car from 10% to 100% in around 10.5 hours.Citroen C3 Electric Review – Battery ChargingHow is it to Drive?Once you are behind the wheel, and you push the accelerator hard, expect the car to give you electrifying acceleration, you will realize that you are in the wrong car. For that, it would be more sensible to either get the C3 with a Turbo motor, or invest in an EV which costs twice as much as the eC3.The eC3 is an extremely practical car which has the potential to become your daily in-city ride. The ride quality of C3 is something which we had praised earlier, and with the eC3, it further gets better. A lower centre of mass (thanks to the floor-stacked battery pack), has enhanced eC3’s ride quality.Citroen C3 Electric Review – Test DriveSteering feedback is reasonable, brakes do their job well and body roll has reduced (compared to C3). Acceleration is decent, you can do a 0-60 kmph in 6.8 seconds and the top-speed is limited to 107 kmph. All of it makes the eC3 a great city ride. However, we must confess that we could experience the eC3 only on a controlled test track. We are yet to experience how it fares in real-world conditions, along with road’s undulations and city’s stop & go traffic.VerdictCitroen has relatively been one of the late entrants in the Indian passenger car market. Its portfolio currently consists of its flagship – C5 Aircross and C3 – whose sales are slowly catching up. However, at the moment, Citroen’s market share is still low and it clearly has the intent to improve it in coming months. Hence, it plans to have an early mover advantage in the mass-market EV space, which at the moment is dominated by Tata Motors. With eC3, Citroen probably plans to pull off what the 800 did for Maruti Suzuki or first gen Santro did for Hyundai.Citroen C3 Electric Review – Boot SpaceC3 Electric has the potential to establish Citroen as a mass market car maker in India. With the eC3, Citroen almost has all the right ingredients, a fresh design, massive space on the inside, a decent set of creature comfort features, promise of a reliable post-purchase experience and segment leading comfort and ride quality. The only catalyst which it now requires for the sales to pick-up is right pricing. Aggressive launch prices might put on a little pressure on their margins, but it might be prudent for Citroen to take the bet and ride on the EV wave in India’s Passenger Car market. More

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      in Future Cars

      Next-Gen 2021 F-150: Ford Doesn’t Replace—It Reloads

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      It’s only five years old, but the Ford F-150 is already the oldest full-size pickup on the market. Although it’s in no danger of losing its sales title, pressure is nonetheless mounting from the surging Ram 1500, so Ford isn’t waiting around to take action. Big changes are right up front. Revisions to the headlights, […] More