Petrol play on mind, Tata Motors unveils its first engine in 15 years

Tata Motors, the country’s fourth largest passenger vehicle maker, unveiled an indigenously developed petrol engine on Monday.

The 1.2-litre turbo-charged engine showcased today, is the first in this class developed by it in about 15 years. Ity previously did so for the Indica car in 1998.

This new engine could power the new hatchback and a compact sedan which Tata Motors has prepared for launch next month. However, company official’s declined to offer details about the engine’s applications.

Company officials though have promised this engine was only a beginning and among a range of engines it has lined up, which will be seen in a variety of new products and even in existing models in the coming period.

This is the Mumbai-based company’s attempt at being independent in the area of engine and powertrain supplies, for which it heavily relies on the domestic joint venture company with Italian company Fiat. At present, the company sources a 1.3-litre diesel engine and two petrol engines from Fiat.

Girish Wagh, vice-president, passenger vehicle, product planning and programme management, said: “We have developed this engine in three years as against the norm of four to five years. With the existing and new range (of vehicles), we expect to shift to new technology as far as engines are concerned.”

This is a renewed play by Tata in the petrol segment; it has a strong base of diesel vehicle sales. With the disparity between diesel and petrol models now getting diminished as prices of diesel get dearer, the company is trying to shift focus to petrol engines.

On the cards at later stages is a sub-one litre engine and more powerful ones than Monday’s launch. Company executives say it wants to offer power in smaller engines like 1.2-litre at par with those seen on bigger engines like the 1.6-litre. The company will market this new range in petrol engines under the Revotron brand. These have been developed in cooperation with AVL of Austria, Bosch-Mahle and Honeywel.

Engineers at the company's UK-based premium subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover, have also worked with Tata engineers based in Pune. The Revotron series will include three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines, with different power settings.  

The company's product launch cycle has been moving at a very slow pace for some years. However, the company increased the pace of development since the last one year and is now ready for new launches some of which will be showcased at the Auto Expo.

The new range of vehicles will be powered by the Revotron series of engines.