Tata Launches The Altroz CNG

After showcasing it at this year’s Auto Expo, Tata Motors has launched the Altroz iCNG in India. The bi-fuel option is available in six variants, with prices starting at INR 7.55 lakh and going up to INR 10.55 lakh (ex-showroom). Here’s the complete price list of Altroz’s iCNG:

• XE: INR 7.55 Lakh

• XM+: INR 8.40 Lakh

• XM+ (S): INR 8.85 Lakh

• XZ: INR 9.53 Lakh

• XZ+ (S): INR 10.03 Lakh

• XZ+O (S): INR 10.55 Lakh

Compared to the corresponding petrol-only variants, the CNG ones are at least INR 95,000 costlier. All iCNG derivatives of the Altroz pack the same powertrain – the 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated mill mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. When fed with petrol, this mill produces 87hp/115Nm. However, as is the case everywhere, that output drops when CNG is chosen for propulsion. In Altroz’s case, the engine offers 72hp/103Nm when fed with compressed natural gas. That’s a decrement of 15hp/12Nm.

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A standout feature of the Altroz iCNG is the twin-cylinder technology that Tata Motors has adopted. What does that mean? Instead of using one large tank in the boot to store CNG, the Indian automaker has used two smaller ones. That help to lay the cylinders deeper towards the car’s floor, below the luggage area. As a result, the Altroz iCNG offers a pretty usable boot space of 210 litres. Another feature Tata Motors can flaunt is the option to start the car directly in CNG mode.

Tata Motors offers the Altroz iCNG in four colours – Opera Blue, Downtown Red, Arcade Grey and Avenue White. In addition, as has become the norm for all new Tata cars, the Altroz iCNG comes with a standard warranty cover of 3 years/1,00,000km.

As you’d expect, the features list remains almost exactly the same. It includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic projector headlamps, LED DRLs, mood lighting, rain-sensing wipers, front fog lamps with cornering function, automatic climate control, electric sunroof and auto-folding ORVMs.

Rivals? There are just two – the Maruti Suzuki Baleno CNG and the Toyota Glanza CNG. Out of the three, which one would you pick?