You've just come off your hot laps at India's latest, fastest, and most unique racetrack into the pit lane, thoroughly impressed with how you've just driven, clueless about the disappointment that's looming large. But you're perhaps more impressed by Tata’s Altroz Racer which attempts to fill a void that Indian enthusiasts have craved for decades—hot hatches. Sure, there have been a few options over the years, but an Indian automaker dipping their feet in this end of the pool again after a not so successful first outing is an especially noteworthy moment.
Hot hatches are essentially go-fast small cars that don't adhere to the mass demands of fuel efficiency or BDE-fueling car sizes. But the Racer isn't particularly a gas guzzler. It is an exciting attempt at making everyday driving much more fun while being practical. Tata invited us to the COASTT track in Coimbatore to sample the 'hot hatch'. My batch wasn't scheduled until later that day, giving me ample time to put it through its paces around the city of Coimbatore.
First things first–Tata has tried to distinguish the Racer from the standard Altroz with a bit of an OTT styling in the form of racing stripes running across dual-tone paintjob options along with new side skirts. There's a lot going on, especially with the Atomic Orange colorway. The interior accents around AC vents and seat stitching, along with the racing stripes, feel more subtle in contrast. You also get ventilated front seats and a flat-bottom steering wheel.
But the main change comes under the hood in the form of a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 120 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque, which is evident the moment you press the accelerator. The power delivery is smooth yet punchy, making city driving enjoyable. The new hydraulic clutch needs a little getting used to as does the 6-speed manual gearbox.
Even the tweaked suspension setup, while stiffer than the regular Altroz, strikes a balance between handling and comfort. Dial in the steering feedback, which is more direct and responsive, and you have a package that makes dealing with city traffic easy and highway driving a breeze.
As I returned to the COASTT track for my scheduled laps, my expectations were already a little high. And the engine lived up to them, feeling punchy throughout the rev range, responding well to throttle inputs. The recalibrated steering wheel and the platform’s rigidity also add to the experience. A hot lap with Narain Karthikeyan followed. However humbling, it showed the Racer's capabilities. Under his expert control, the car handled with precision and agility, making it clear that this platform has genuine potential.
With the Altroz Racer, Tata is delivers on the performance, style, and practicality fronts in a compact form. In addition to the fun performance, you get 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, providing seamless smartphone integration, a music system that’s par for the package, and standard safety features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors. There's also a high-quality 360-degree camera, making it a convenient choice for daily use. A more sure-slotting gear shifter or an automatic option would have rounded off the package well.
Even though it’s not the full-blown adrenaline rush enthusiasts might crave, the Altroz Racer offers an enjoyable taste of performance driving, without compromising on practicality. While the Racer makes a solid case for itself, the Indian market has always favored fuel efficiency and practicality over performance, and hot hatches have historically struggled to find a foothold here. Yet, there's hope. In the Altroz Racer, Tata has found the perfect middle ground for the time being–a punchy performer that’s packed with practicality and keeps the hope for hot hatches alive.
