Tata Motors recently introduced the Punch EV in India, an all-electric micro-SUV with significant feature enhancements compared to its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterpart, including several pioneering features. However, those anticipating the incorporation of Punch EV innovations into the ICE model will have to wait until 2025, as confirmed by a senior Tata Motors official.
During a media roundtable after the Punch EV launch, Shailesh Chandra, MD of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles & Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, clarified, “Starting from the Punch EV, which is based on the pure EV architecture Acti.ev, our aim is to differentiate the ICE and EVs. Therefore, you will continue to see a differentiated look and feature set in an EV versus an ICE. So when we come with a facelift for ICE, which is in the middle of 2025 or slightly later, it will come with a differentiated look with a different set of features as compared to the Punch EV.” The Punch has garnered remarkable popularity, with over 3 lakh units rolled out in just over two years since its launch.
The top-spec Punch EV variant boasts a 10.25-inch digital instruments display, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, cornering fog lamps, auto-folding wing mirrors, an electric sunroof, wireless phone charging, and more. Safety features include six airbags, ESC, and a blind spot monitor. The Punch EV’s long-range model also includes all-wheel disc brakes.
In terms of design distinctions, expectations point to the facelifted Punch drawing inspiration from the new Nexon. The updated Nexon adopts a design philosophy first seen in the Curvv concept, incorporating more angular elements for the fascia while maintaining enough distinctions from the EV variant. Tata aims to make the ICE Punch visually distinctive compared to its EV counterpart.