Tata Motors is gearing up to expand its lineup of CNG-powered cars by introducing the Punch CNG, which is set to debut in the coming weeks. The production of the Tata Punch CNG has already commenced at the carmaker’s production facility, and it will join other CNG-powered cars from Tata, such as the Tiago CNG, Tigor CNG, and Altroz CNG.
Having been showcased at the Auto Expo 2023, the new Tata Punch CNG will retain the design of its petrol-powered counterpart both inside and out, with a few feature additions according to ACI. Notably, the Punch CNG will come equipped with a single-pane sunroof, a feature likely to make its way into the petrol variants of the Punch, just as Tata did with the Altroz.
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Similar to the Altroz CNG, the Tata Punch CNG will feature a unique dual-cylinder setup for the CNG tanks, cleverly placed beneath the boot compartment floor. This innovative arrangement allows the Punch CNG to offer a practical and usable boot space, unlike other CNG-powered cars where the CNG tank significantly reduces the available boot space. Like the Altroz CNG, the new Punch CNG will also be equipped with two 30-litre CNG tanks, giving it a maximum capacity of 60 litres.
Under the hood, the CNG variants of the Tata Punch will be powered by the 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine found in the micro-SUV. In CNG mode, the Punch is expected to deliver 77 bhp of power and 97 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission as standard. An advantage over competitors is that the Punch CNG will offer the option to start directly in CNG mode, a feature not currently offered by other competitors.
Other features remain the same
Apart from the sunroof, the new Punch CNG will retain the features from its petrol-powered version, including the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 7-inch TFT MID in the instrument console, automatic climate control, push start-stop button, and multi-functional steering wheel. The only distinguishable element in the Punch CNG will be the ‘i-CNG’ badge, positioned on the boot lid.
In the market, the Tata Punch CNG will face competition from the all-new Hyundai Exter CNG, which was recently launched as a direct rival to the Punch and Citroen C3. Additionally, the Punch CNG will also rival similarly-priced CNG-powered hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Baleno, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, and Tata’s own Altroz.
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