Tata Motors have launched their premium hatchback Altroz DCA with an automatic gearbox that has been missing from the variant line-up.
It has been almost two years since the Tata Altroz was introduced in India. Since then, the Tata Altroz has sold over 1.25 lakh units. The Altroz suffered a year-over-year sales dip of 26.65 percent in February 2022, with only 5,011 units sold. So Tata Motors have timed the launch of the automatic variant quite well. It will be called the Altroz DCA, with a state-of-the-art dual-clutch transmission developed specifically for Indian consumers. The Altroz DCA is a cutting-edge technology with 45 patents, and it is the world’s first DCT with planetary gearing. Wet clutch with active cooling technology, Machine learning, Shift by wire technology, Self-healing mechanism, and Auto park lock are all available in the DCA version of Tata’s newest and safest-rated hatchback.
Design
The Tata Impact 2.0 design language gives the Altroz a dynamic appearance. Sharp style with a shark-nose front end, projector headlamps, and LED DRLs are among the highlights. The iconic grille, which is completed in gloss black, is the final touch. Chrome accents are added to the blacked-out ORVMs. The 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels just add to the sportiness. The athletic and expensive motif is carried over to the rear with many blacked-out accents. Even the roof has a black finish. A split-LED tail lamp system is joined by black plastic trim at the rear. The dashboard is finished in a black-grey colour scheme with silver accents.The Altroz DCA is now available in Opera Blue. In addition to being available in Downtown Red, Arcade Grey, Avenue White, and Harbour Blue, the Altroz DCA will be part of the Dark range. The Altroz DCA also comes with 16-inch dual-tone laser cut alloy wheels and a contrasting black roof.
Cabin
The Altroz DCA has a dual-tone colour design on the inside, which is enhanced by the soothing blue ambient lighting. The Altroz has a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker Harman sound system that really sounds good for a car in this segment, connected car technology, and rear AC vents, among other things. The Altroz also comes with Xpress cooling for climate control, which is a godsend in our hot summers. One point to note is that Tata Motors could have done a better job with the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels of the Altroz cabin as a bit of the engine noise creeps into the cabin and is quite audible.
Features
The innovative six-speed dual-clutch transmission has 45 patents and is the world’s first DCT with a planetary gear arrangement. The DCA model, on the other hand, is over 20 kg heavier than its manual counterpart. With a wet clutch, active cooling technology, machine learning, and shift-by-wire technology, Tata claims the new DCA gearbox is optimised specifically for Indian roads and climatic conditions.
Tata’s Self-healing technology clears dust particles from the transmission system, ensuring that performance is not affected. The Altroz DCA also has an Auto Park Lock feature, which automatically applies the parking brake if the driver forgets to do so before exiting the vehicle. A 7.0-inch part-digital instrument cluster, keyless entry with push-button start-stop, automatic climate control, iRA rain-sensing wipers, and leatherette upholstery are just a few of the other standard amenities.
Engine
The Tata Altroz DCA is offered only with the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine, which produces 86 hp @6,000 rpm and 113 Nm of peak torque @3,300 that is mated to a six-speed dual clutch transmission. While driving in the city the car seemed to have adequate amount of power to tackle the city traffic only on the highway you do feel the lack of a turbo for those overtaking opportunities. You also have to be quite linear with the throttle, but if you floor it, it takes some time for the DCT box to down shift.
Dynamics
In addition, the Altroz offers the finest driving dynamics of any Tata car to date. The new ALFA base is solid and sturdy, and the suspension is well-designed. It handles all bumps in the road admirably, and the ride is comfortable without being overly firm. The body roll is also well-controlled, and the steering is nicely weighted and feels comfortable and accurate. The braking system inspires confidence, and the Tata Altroz maintains its line even when braking hard.
Safety
Because of the hatchback’s ALFA-ARC platform, the Tata Altroz is one of the safest hatchbacks in the country, having a 5-star safety rating for adult occupant protection. The Altroz DCT additionally gets a new safety feature called auto park lock that automatically engages the park mode even if the driver forgets to do so when exiting the car.
Verdict
Since its debut in January 2020, the Altroz has received a resounding response from customers who praised its design, best-in-class safety, and adequate performance. The Tata Altroz DCA is available in India for Rs 8.09 lakh ex-showroom. Tata Motors has introduced the Altroz DCA in India, with prices ranging from Rs 8.09 lakh to Rs 9.89 lakh. These are simply introductory costs, and they are expected to rise in the future. Without a question, the Tata Altroz is one of the most profitable options in the luxury hatchback segment. However, until today, it lacked a true DCT gearbox. Tata Motors has now fitted it with what appears to be a fantastic transmission. However, it would have been preferable if the same transmission had been made available with Tata’s existing turbo-petrol engine.
Read More: Tata Altroz DCA Automatic Launched at Rs 8.10 Lakh
Story by Kurt Morris
