Tata released the first image of the smallest SUV in their range which will be called Punch. The upcoming model is the production version of last year’s Tata HBX concept, and will be sold in India where micro-SUVs are quite popular at the moment.
The design of the Punch is fairly modern, adopting a dual-headlight design similar to the larger Harrier and Safari models, and a muscular body. The white-colored roof combined with the black pillars and the plastic cladding all around the bodywork, are following the current design trend in SUVs and make the Punch look adventurous, at least in higher-spec models like the pictured example. The company suggests that the Punch was designed for next-generation users, so we expect it to retain the floating touchscreen and the partly-digital instrument cluster of the concept car.
The Punch sits on the new Agile Light Flexible Advanced Architecture (ALFA-ARC) which also underpins the Altroz supermini. The company didn’t reveal information on the powertrains, but the Punch will probably be fitted with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder available in naturally aspirated or turbocharged form. Power will be transmitted exclusively to the front axle through a five-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
Rivals of the Tata Punch include the Renault Kwid, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis, and the upcoming Hyundai Casper. Pricing is expected to start below Rs 5 lakh (US$ 6,745) for the base version.
