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    Tata Punch EV Gearbox Stuck – Replacement Offered Also Has Fault, Claims Owner

    Tata Punch EV owner sharesTata Punch EV owner claims that his brand new EV was faulty and so was the replacement EVTata Motors recently launched their newest EV in the form of Punch EV. Delivery has also started. Tata Motors, which has been at the forefront of India’s electric vehicle revolution, introduced the Punch EV as part of its born-electric Acti.ev platform.Punch EV owner shares Quality Control ConcernsRanjit Mehta, a resident of Gurugram, shared his unfortunate experience just three days after taking delivery of the Punch EV. Mehta claims that within a few hours of taking possession of his brand-new Tata Punch EV on January 31, 2024, he started noticing issues related to the brakes.Tata Punch EV owner sharesWhat caught more attention, however, was the malfunctioning gearbox. In a video shared on social media the same day, Mehta demonstrated that the gear dial of his Tata Punch EV refused to respond. Even more alarming was the revelation that the motor continued to accelerate even when the brake pedal was fully pressed. Faced with these critical issues, Mehta promptly took his vehicle to the Autovikas Tata EV dealership.Adding another layer to the predicament, Mehta claimed that his Tata Punch EV had not undergone the essential Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) before reaching him. The significance of PDI lies in its ability to identify and rectify potential issues before the customer takes possession of the vehicle. Mehta even provided an audio recording where the dealership acknowledged the omission of the PDI process.Tata Punch EV owner sharesReplacement Saga UnfoldsAs a response to Mehta’s grievances, Tata Motors agreed to replace his faulty vehicle under warranty. However, this apparent solution led to an unexpected twist. The replacement vehicle provided by Tata Motors also exhibited the same motor issue that Mehta had encountered with his originally purchased faulty Punch EV. This shocking turn of events only amplified Mehta’s frustration.Tata Punch EV owner sharesAdding to the woes, Mehta claimed that he was presented with an additional charge for the replacement vehicle, despite the issues being evident from day one and the car being well within the warranty period. This left Mehta perplexed and frustrated, prompting him to voice his concerns on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter).Tata Motors’ ResponseIn response to Mehta’s concerns raised on the X platform, Tata Motors issued a statement, saying, “Hello Ranjit, please allow us some time to get this checked with our team, and we’ll get back to you soon with an update. We value your cooperation in the meantime.” While this response indicates a willingness to address the issues, it leaves the owner and potential buyers in a state of uncertainty regarding the root cause of the problems and the steps Tata Motors intends to take to resolve them.Experiencing major issues with my new Tata Punch EV gear selector failure in traffic,and electric motor engaging despite brake applied. Safety concerns are a top priority! Dropped it off at Autovikas Tata EV showroom. @TataMotors,urgent replacement or refund needed! #TataPunchEV pic.twitter.com/ntHN0WtNe9— Ranjit Mehta (@ranjitmehta20) January 31, 2024With Tata Motors being a key player in the electric vehicle segment, instances of technical glitches and quality control lapses can dent the trust of potential buyers. This comes at a time when the Indian government is actively promoting electric mobility, and the success of electric vehicles depends heavily on customer confidence in the technology and the manufacturers.Source More

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    2024 Tata Nexon Electric and Tiago Electric – New vs Old Prices of all variants

    Image – JayarajNexon EV’s Fearless LR, Fearless + LR and Fearless + S LR variants get the highest price reduction of Rs. 1.2 lakh each (ex-sh)India’s highest-selling electric car maker, Tata Motors, has lowered price tag of two of its best-selling EVs – Nexon EV and Tiago EV. While every manufacturer including Tata Motors is racking up ex-showroom prices, it is refreshing to see car prices go down every once in a while. These lowered prices are for EVs only and is not applicable to their ICE counterparts.Tata Nexon EV And Tiago EVNexon EV and Tiago EV are the foundation vehicles on which TPEM (Tata Passenger Electric Mobility) has built its empire. When we say empire, we mean the 70%+ market share that Tata Motors enjoys in Indian electric car space. Maximum price reduction that Tata is offering with Nexon EV and Tiago EV is Rs. 1.2 lakh (ex-sh).Chief Commercial Officer at TPEM, Mr Vivek Srivatsa, mentioned that there has been a reduction in input costs revolving around batteries and the company is passing on the benefits to their customers. This move was materialised after Mahindra and MG slashed prices off their offerings like XUV400 and Comet respectively.2024 Tata Tiago Electric Variant-Wise Price Reduction ListedThis is Tata’s most affordable electric car. Not only that, it is the most affordable 5-door electric car in India too. Before this price revision, Tiago EV prices used to start from Rs. 8.69 lakh (ex-sh) for base XE MR (Medium Range). XE MR now costs Rs. 7.99 lakh (ex-sh) with Rs. 70,000 off accounting for an 8.06% price reduction.Tiago EV revised pricesXT MR gets Rs. 35,000 discount and costs Rs. 8.99 lakh post price revision. The LR variants (Long Range) now start from Rs. 9.99 lakh for XT LR which received Rs. 30,000 off. XZ+ LR and XZ+ Tech Lux LR get the least reduction at Rs. 20,000 each. Tiago EV’s price range now extends till 11.39 lakh. All prices ex-sh.2024 Tata Nexon Electric Variant-Wise Price Reduction ListedStarting with Creative+ MR variant (Medium Range) of Nexon EV, pricing used to be Rs. 14.79 lakh, which is brought down to Rs. 14.49 lakh with a Rs. 25,000 reduction. Fearless MR, Fearless+ MR and Fearless+ S MR all get the same Rs. 20,000 price reduction. Empowered MR variant gets Rs. 35,000 decrease accounting for a 1.96% reduction. All prices ex-sh.Nexon EV revised pricesSpeaking of LR variants (Long Range), Fearless LR, Fearless + LR and Fearless + S LR all get the same Rs. 1.2 lakh price cuts accounting for a 6.25% to 6.6% reduction in ex-sh prices. In effect, these variants receive the most price benefits among all other Nexon EV variants. The top-spec Empowered + LR variant gets Rs. 70,000 off. This way, Tata Nexon EV prices now range between Rs. 14.49 lakh and Rs. 19.29 lakh instead of Rs. 14.74 lakh and Rs. 19.99 lakh (all prices ex-sh). More

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    Tata Nexon EV, Tiago EV Price Cut By Up To Rs 1.2 Lakh – No Benefit For Existing Owners

    Tata Nexon EV price cutTata Motors has announced a price reduction for Nexon EV as well as Tiago EV – Passes on battery price reduction benefits to customersIn a major move to make electric vehicles (EVs) more accessible to Indian customers, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEM), a subsidiary of Tata Motors and a pioneer in India’s EV revolution, has announced substantial price cuts for two of their best-selling electric models, the Nexon EV and Tiago EV. These new prices are valid on new purchase, and not for existing owners.Tata Nexon EV New Prices, Tiago EV New Prices – Feb 2024Nexon EV is set to receive a price reduction of up to Rs. 1.2 lakh, making it even more appealing to potential buyers. Similarly, the Tiago EV will see a significant price drop of up to Rs. 70,000, with the base model now starting at an attractive Rs. 7.99 lakh. This news comes after Mahindra reduced prices of their XUV400 electric and MG Motor reduced prices of their Comet EV and ZS EV.Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer at TPEM, highlighted the rationale behind the price reduction, stating, “Battery costs constitute a substantial part of the overall cost of an EV. With battery cell prices having softened in the recent past and considering their potential reduction in the foreseeable future, we have chosen to proactively pass on the resulting benefits directly to customers.”The reduction in prices is expected to further propel the growth of the EV market in India, where TPEM already holds a dominant position with over 70% market share. Notably, the inaugural prices of the recently launched Punch EV will remain unchanged, as they already incorporate a reduction in battery prices anticipated in the coming years.EV Market Surge: TPEM Commands Over 70% Market ShareEVs have shown remarkable growth momentum in recent years, substantially outperforming the overall passenger vehicle industry. In CY2023, the EV segment witnessed an impressive 90% growth, in stark contrast to the 8% growth recorded by the traditional passenger vehicle industry. This growth momentum has continued into CY2024, with EV sales registering an outstanding 100% year-on-year growth in January 2024.Mr. Srivatsa emphasized the company’s commitment to accelerating the mainstream adoption of EVs by making them more accessible nationwide. “While EVs have grown rapidly over the last few years, our mission is to accelerate the mainstream adoption of EVs by making them more accessible nationwide. Our portfolio already offers a wide choice of body styles, range, and price points for our smart, feature-rich EVs,” he added.With these significant price reductions, Tata Motors aims to attract a larger pool of customers to the EV market. The Nexon EV and Tiago EV, already popular choices among consumers, are expected to become even more compelling propositions at their new, accessible price points.Germany Reports Decline In EV SalesElsewhere, electric vehicle sales are reportedly slowing down. Germany witnessed a substantial 55% decline in electric vehicle (EV) sales in January 2024, shedding light on upheavals within the broader automotive sector. In line with global trends, Germany had previously offered tax incentives for citizens purchasing electric vehicles. However, the government abruptly terminated the incentive program in December 2023, leading to a significant downturn in EV sales.In comparison to December 2023, the sales of new electric vehicles witnessed a sharp decline of 54.9%, while plug-in hybrid sales were down by 19.6% in the initial month of 2024. Conversely, the market for vehicles powered by internal combustion engines experienced a positive trajectory, with gas vehicles increasing by 9.1% and diesel vehicles by 9.5%.Despite the modest rebound in internal combustion engine vehicle sales, it failed to counterbalance the overall contraction of the automotive market, which contracted by 11.7% compared to December 2023, as reported by Auto Business Insight. While the sudden termination of tax incentives undoubtedly exacerbated the decline in EV sales, it is not the sole factor contributing to the overall decrease. More

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    Tata Nexon EV Discounts Up To Rs 2.8 L (MY2023) – Offers On New Version As Well

    Image – JayarajTata’s discount for Nexon EV comes at a time when rivals like Mahindra and MG Motor have also reduced prices of their EVsTowards the end of the financial year, it’s common to see OEMs announce discounts and offers to clear unsold stock. Just a few days back, MG Motor had announced price cuts across the range. Tata appears to be working on the same lines, as discount offers have been announced for both pre-facelift and facelift Nexon EV. The discount offers are applicable only on the MY2023 Nexon EV model.MY2023 Nexon EV pre-facelift – Rs 2.80 lakh cheaperNexon EV facelift has a sportier profile and an extended equipment list in comparison to the pre-facelift model. However, with a discount of up to Rs 2.80 lakh, the pre-facelift Nexon EV seems like an attractive deal. The discount offer is applicable on the unsold stock of MY2023 pre-facelift models. The pre-facelift Nexon EV has Prime and Max trims.MY 2023 Nexon EV Max pre faceliftBased on stock available, Nexon EV Prime is available with total benefits worth Rs 1.90 lakh to Rs 2.30 lakh. Folks buying the top-spec Nexon EV Max variant are eligible for a discount of Rs 2.80 lakh. This is Rs 20k more than the discount offer announced for Nexon EV in December 2023.MY2023 Nexon EV pre-facelift Prime variant is equipped with a 30.2 kWh battery pack. It supplies power to a 129 hp electric motor. ARAI certified range is 312 km. In comparison, the MY2023 Nexon EV pre-facelift Max variant has a larger 40.5 kWh battery pack. It is linked to a 143 hp electric motor. ARAI certified range is 437 km.Tata Nexon EV discount offers Feb 2024MY2023 Nexon EV facelift – Rs 1 lakh cheaperDiscounts and benefits worth Rs 50,000 are available with Fearless MR, Empowered + LR and Empowered MR variants of MY2023 Nexon EV facelift. Customers choosing the Fearless + MR, Fearless +S MR and Fearless + LR variants are eligible for discounts and benefits worth Rs 65,000. A discount of Rs 85,000 is applicable on the Fearless LR variant. The top-spec Fearless + S LR variant of MY2023 Nexon EV facelift is available with discounts and benefits worth up to Rs 1 lakh.Tata Nexon EV facelift model is available in Medium Range (MR) and Long Range (LR) variants. Nexon EV MR has a 30.2 kWh battery that connects to an electric motor generating 129 hp and 215 Nm. ARAI certified range is 325 km. Nexon EV LR variant has a 40.5 kWh battery, connected to an electric motor that makes 145 hp and 215 Nm. ARAI certified range is 465 km. A 7.2 kW AC charger is offered as standard with both MR and LR variants of Nexon EV. Refuelling from 10% to 100% takes 4.3 hours for the MR variant and around 6 hours for LR variant.As of now, Nexon EV primarily rivals the Mahindra XUV400. The latter is available with discounts of up to Rs 4.40 lakh. XUV400 prices start at Rs 15.49 lakh. In comparison, Nexon EV is available at a starting price of Rs 14.74 lakh. More

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    Tata New EVs Incoming – Curvv, Harrier (2024), Sierra, Altroz (2025)

    Tata New EVs IncomingWith a diversified electric portfolio, Tata Motors can sustain its dominance in mass market EV segmentWith bestsellers like Nexon EV and Tiago EV, Tata Motors has captured a large chunk of the entry-level EV segment. Punch EV has also been launched and is expected to deliver similar results. With multiple affordable EVs, Tata Motors seems like the new Maruti of EV world. There’s more in store, as Tata Motors is readying 4 new SUVs for 2024-2025.Curvv EV, Harrier EV launch in 2024With its sporty design and hi-tech features, Curvv SUV has potential to disrupt the compact SUV segment. Curvv SUV will have both electric and ICE versions. The electric variant will be launched first to establish a lead over the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV. As of now, the compact SUV segment is dominated by the likes of Creta, Kia Seltos and Maruti Grand Vitara. The compact EV SUV segment will also see the launch of Maruti eVX next year. It will be Maruti’s first electric offering, based on an entirely new born-electric platform. eVX will be one of the key rivals of Tata Curvv EV.[embedded content]For Curvv EV, Tata is using the new, born-electric acti.ev platform. Punch EV was the first Tata car to get this new advanced architecture. Apart from Curvv EV, all other upcoming new Tata passenger EVs will share the same platform. Acti.ev architecture offers multiple benefits spread across technology, performance, modularity and optimal space utilization.After Curvv EV, Tata will introduce Harrier EV later this year. The production variant will closely match the design and features seen with the Harrier EV concept showcased at 2023 Auto Expo. Harrier EV will retain the Omega architecture, a derivative of the legendary Land Rover D8 architecture.New Tata Harrier EV design patentHowever, the platform has undergone some major modifications to support electrification. Also, Tata’s Gen 2 EV architecture has been combined to create the new architecture for Harrier EV. Tata is also working on Harrier turbo-petrol that will be launched after Harrier EV.Sierra EV, Altroz EV launch in 2025Tata had showcased the Sierra EV concept at 2020 and 2023 Auto Expo. Launch is expected in 2025. A number of features are borrowed from Tata Avinya concept. Sierra EV will retain the overall look and feel of its predecessor, while also introducing new styling elements. Some of the key highlights include sleek headlamps, fine mesh grille, rugged bumper and a backlit Tata logo (part of the full-width LED light bar). Sierra EV will have spacious interiors and a comprehensive range of advanced features. It is likely that Tata will also introduce the ICE version of Sierra.Altroz EV was showcased at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. It is apparent that launch has been delayed due to the pandemic. Altroz will also share the new acti.ev platform like Punch EV. It could have a range of around 400-450 km. New features including ADAS are likely. More

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    Tata Punch.ev On-Road Prices Compared With Bigger SUVs

    New Tata Punch EV. Image – Shubhadip SinghaTata Punch.ev is not very small compared to sub 4m SUVs and looking at features, powertrains and dynamics, it is the best vehicle to buy under Rs. 16 lakh (on-road)With the launch of Punch.ev, Tata Motors aim to push electric mobility to the masses. Thus hoping to speed up electric adoption rate in India. Launched recently, Punch EV (sold as Punch.ev) costs between Rs. 11.99 lakh and Rs. 14.49 lakh (ex-sh). These are killer prices and Tata is offering sunroof and 7.2 kW fast charger for an additional Rs. 50,000 each.Tata Punch.ev On-Road Prices ComparedThe prices are introductory and are bound to change at a later date. However, buying one now will make a lot of sense. We have driven the car around Bengaluru at Punch.ev media drive event organised by Tata Motors including off-road track and on-road handling track. You can read our first impression review here.In the review, we concluded that car buyers looking at cars below Rs. 16 lakh across any segment should consider Punch.ev before finalising. To fully understand the gravity of Punch.ev’s brilliance, we should look at a car’s on-road pricing and compare it to sub 4m SUVs/crossovers.We say this because electric cars only attract nominal registration charges, while ICE cars attract full-fat road tax. In the price table below, you can see how Tata Punch.ev on-road prices hold up against on-road prices of IC engine equipped sub 4m SUVs. I took on-road prices from Karnataka of automatic variants. Read comparison with Citroen eC3 here.Tata Punch.ev On-road Prices ComparedThe prices mentioned above, are for reference only and are not accurate. They include indicatory RTO tax, insurance and other charges. When comparing on-road prices, Punch.ev starts to look a lot more VFM than larger sub 4m SUVs with an IC engine. For context, we took top-spec Punch.ev Empowered+ LR with 7.2 kW ACFC for this comparison.Why we call Punch.ev a game changer?At around Rs. 16 lakh (on-road, Karnataka), Punch.ev has a lot of features and equipment. For starters, Punch.ev gets an electronic parking brake with auto hold, a fancy gear selector with an integrated display, new-age steering wheel from Nexon with an illuminated logo, paddle shifters, ventilated front seats, all-four disc brakes, LED projector headlights and a lot more.Not just that, Punch.ev has sequential LED indicators, full-width LED DRL with welcome and goodbye functions, leatherette seat upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED projector fog lights, cornering light function, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, 360-degree camera, air purifier, telematics, fancy touch and toggle-style climate control panel and steering mounted controls.Tata Punch.ev interiorsThen comes the new 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Arcade.ev app suite for video streaming from many OTT platforms. Add to it, a 10.2-inch single-piece TFT colour instrument cluster that is fully configurable with a full-screen maps feature and shows a plethora of vehicular information.A package of all these features and technology in itself is note-worthy at Rs. 16 lakh. But zooming out further, Punch.ev is an electric car with supremely low running costs. It offers a 35 kWh battery with LR models, packing 121 bhp and 190 Nm claiming 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.5 seconds. Range is a claimed 421 km, with a real-world range of around 300 km. There are drive modes and adjustable regen modes too.Tata Punch EV First Drive ReviewThe chassis optimisation of Acti.ev platform is definitely an added masala to an already incredible package. Tata Punch.ev is easily the most agile mainstream vehicle in sub 4m segment and promises spirited and sure-footed driving dynamics. Ride quality, rough road ability and off-road capability are pretty impressive too. More

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    Tata Sanand Plant To Start EV Production Soon – Curvv, Harrier, Safari EVs Spied Together

    Along with Harrier EV, Tata is also planning the launch of Curvv EV and Safari EVTata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, a unit of Tata Motors, had acquired this Sanand facility from Ford India in January 2023Tata Motors, with an extensive range of electric vehicles in its portfolio, is planning to commence production from its new Sanand plant from April 2024. This plant was acquired from Ford India early last year and it is from this manufacturing unit that Tata Motors also produces the ICE versions of Nexon.Tata to make EVs at Sanand PlantThe Sanand plant which has been acquired from Ford India at Rs 725.7 crore, has a current capacity of 3 lakh units per annum though production capacity can be extended to 4.2 lakh units. Even as the company has announced that production of the Nexon EV will soon commence, Tata Motors also plans launch of the Curvv EV and Harrier EV, all of which will be produced from the same plant.[embedded content]There is also the Safari EV in the making. All three of these new EV SUVs were spied together recently in Pune. Targeting a 5 percent growth in the passenger vehicle segment, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD Shailesh Chandra revealed the timeline for launch of the Curvv EV and Harrier EV. The Curvv EV is planned for launch in Q3/Q4 of CY 2024 while later this year the company will also launch the Harrier EV.Earlier this week the company introduced Punch.ev. It comes in at a competitive pricing of Rs 10.99 lakh to Rs 14.49 lakh, ex-showroom and booking open at Rs 21,000. It competes with the Citroen eC3 and upcoming Hyundai Exter EV and Kia Clavis. Punch.ev is being offered with two battery packs. The standard model gets a 25-kWh battery pack offering a 315 km range while the Long Range (LR) variant sports a larger 35 kWh battery pack with a 421 km range.Tata Safari EV spied in PuneTata Curvv has been spied on test and prices are likely to be announced by June 2024. It enters the compact SUV space and will have both ICE and electric powertrains. The ICE variant will take on the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos along with the Maruti Grand Vitara while the electric version of Curvv will compete with the upcoming Creta EV, Maruti eVX and Mahindra BE.05.Tata Harrier EV spied in PuneTata Harrier EV, Safari EV Design Patent LeakedTata Harrier and Safari EVs will be the company’s flagship electric vehicle. Design leaks show off a more futuristic design with extensive exterior updates along with a host of interior features. These include a twin spoke steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, touch based HVAC system, a 360 degree camera and ADAS. Cabin comforts also extend to automatic climate controls, wireless charging, ventilated seating in the front and ambient lighting.Tata Harrier EV and Safari EV will be positioned on the company’s Gen II EV architecture, an improvement over the Gen I platform seen on the Nexon EV. It will likely draw its power via a 60 kWh to 80 kWh battery pack to offer a range of around 500 kms on full charge. Expect prices to be in the Rs 25-35 lakh range upon launch. More

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

    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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