There’s hardly any automotive company in the Indian market as reactive as Tata Motors. The term ‘reactive’ can be used in both a positive and a negative sense. Tata’s haste in launching new cars often leads to overcomplicating its product variants. Additionally, the brand’s after-sales service is still in need of a complete overhaul.
But putting that aside, Tata Motors is doing one thing very right—it’s making aspirational cars that people are eager to get their hands on. Don’t believe me? Just look at the new Tata Safari, Harrier, and Nexon. These SUVs not only look amazing but also drive really well. If you ever see one on the road, I’m sure you won’t miss it. The sheer road presence of Tata SUVs is enough to tempt anyone with even a slight interest in cars to take out a loan and rush to their nearest Tata Motors showroom.
But, as I mentioned earlier, no one moves faster than Tata Motors when it comes to innovation. The local brand was among the first to bring a new segment to the mass market—the SUV coupe—with the introduction of the Tata Curvv.
The Curvv is the first SUV coupe in Tata Motors’ lineup and the second mass-market SUV coupe in the Indian auto market. Citroën stole some of Tata’s thunder by launching its SUV coupe, the Basalt, just before the Curvv and pricing it very competitively with an introductory price of ₹7.99 lakh.
However, as we’ll see now, the Tata Curvv is a different beast altogether. It is available in three fuel options—petrol, diesel, and electric. Even within the petrol variant, users have two different options. Similarly, the EV variant can be equipped with either a 45 kWh or 55 kWh battery.
If you choose the diesel option, you’ll get a single engine choice, but it’s a new one. Tata is calling it the Hyperion Kryotech 1.5-litre diesel engine. It’s a 4-cylinder unit, and the Kryotech name suggests it’s a derivative of the Kryotech 2.0-litre diesel engine found in the Tata Safari and Harrier.
Moreover, at the press launch, Tata Motors more or less confirmed that the new Kryotech 1.5-litre diesel engine will make its way into other models. Currently, there are two products in Tata’s portfolio that use the older Revotron 1.5-litre diesel engine—the Altroz, a premium hatchback, and the Nexon, a compact SUV.
With a thoroughly planned product launch, Tata revealed the Curvv SUVs, showcasing some never-before-seen features that wowed both the audience and veteran journalists on the scene. Here are a few of them.
The CURVV adopts a sloping roofline typical of a coupe, creating a dynamic silhouette. This design is not just about aesthetics; it improves aerodynamic efficiency, contributing to better performance and fuel economy.
The front fascia is similar to Tata Safari/Harrier and Nexon but still manages to look distinct. It includes a distinctive DRL (Daytime Running Light) signature, which a lot of other Tata SUVs also have. The rear of the vehicle is equally impressive with a full-width LED light bar as well.
Inside, the CURVV boasts a minimalist, button-free cockpit dominated by digital displays, which I don’t like and from a safety standpoint are also not pretty good. The steering will remind you of the Tata Safari and also the Tata Punch.ev for that matter. The cabin is spacious but doesn’t offer enough headroom.
Additionally, Tata’s chief design head, Martin, revealed that Tata CURVV’s design is very ‘human-centric.’ While this encompasses a broad range of concepts, it primarily means that the design is inclusive, catering to the needs of people of all shapes and sizes. It also indicates that the cars are either ready for or already compatible with connected technologies.
Tata also introduced distinct design changes for the Curvv EV. It features a streamlined design with smooth lines and a sloping roofline, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency to maximise range and reduce energy consumption.
The mostly closed front grille, unlike in ICE vehicles, further improves aerodynamics and gives the EV a futuristic, minimalist look. Unique badging, accent colours, and aerodynamic wheels highlight its electric nature, while the absence of a traditional engine allows for additional storage space in the front trunk, or ‘frunk,’ optimising vehicle space.
The top variants feature list is also quiet comprehensive and includes things like leatherette upholstery, ventilated six-way adjustable front seats, a two-step rear seat recline, 45W Type-C charging ports, the Arcade.ev app suite, a panoramic sunroof, and powered tailgate with gesture control. The sound system is a 320W 9-speaker JBL setup. Safety includes six airbags, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, hill-start and descent assist, ESP, a blind spot monitor, and Level 2 ADAS features.
The Tata Curvv sits on the brand new ATLAS platform, which is short for Adaptive Tech Forward Lifestyle Architecture. Along with new features, the ATLAS platform also comes with new speculations, such as its potential to underpin all future SUVs from the company. It seems rather premature because apart from Nexon, the Tata Safari and Harrier already have newer or relatively new platforms that work more than fine. And as for the smaller SUV like the Tata Punch, I don’t think a premium platform would even make sense to begin with.
But one thing is certain, Tata will launch new vehicles with the new ATLAS platform in the coming years. The ATLAS platform emphasises crashworthiness with a continuous framework that evenly distributes impact loads, ensuring uniform safety. It is also highly adaptable, supporting various body styles and powertrain options, including petrol, diesel, and electric engines.
The Curvv is 313mm longer and has a 62mm longer wheelbase than the Nexon, providing more legroom inside. However, headroom at the rear is somewhat limited due to the sloping roofline. The Curvv is also 6mm wider, 10mm taller, and features larger 18-inch wheels compared to the Nexon’s 16-inchers. Additionally, the extra length adds 118 litres of boot space, bringing it to 500 litres compared to the Nexon’s 382 litres.
In line with the industry’s shift towards software-driven vehicles, the ATLAS platform is designed to accommodate future technologies, incorporating advanced electric architecture and cloud platform capabilities. The CURVV, the first model to utilise ATLAS, will feature technology like an integrated cockpit-to-wheel controller, multiple displays, and over 24 Powertrain Control Units (PCUs), showcasing the platform’s ability to support complex and advanced automotive systems.
For the uninitiated, The “cockpit-to-wheel controller” is a centralised system in vehicles that integrates and manages various functions from the driver’s cockpit, facilitating seamless communication between components like displays, infotainment, and driving controls. Essentially it is like a super-smart remote control in a car that connects everything from the dashboard buttons and touchscreens to the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to control the car and even add cool new tech features in the future—kind of like how your game console controller manages everything during a game.
Meanwhile, Power Control Units (PCUs) are like the brain of an electric or hybrid car, making sure that power from the battery is sent to the right places, like the motor or other systems, so everything runs smoothly—similar to how your phone manages apps and battery power to keep it working efficiently.
Alongside the Curvv Coupe SUV, Tata also took the liberty to debut its two new engines – a 1.2-litre Hyperion GDI Petrol and a 1.5-litre Kryojet Diesel engine. Moreover, these new engines will be paired with a Dual-channel automatic or a reworked manual gearbox. What’s interesting is that Tata Motors has now become the only manufacturer in its segment to offer a Diesel engine + DCA gearbox combination. The older 1.2-liter Revotron engine is available with the Smart and Pure+S variants of the Tata Curvv.
As for the features, the Hyperion engine uses GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) technology, which injects fuel directly into the combustion chamber, rather than mixing it with air beforehand. Tata claims that this results in better fuel atomisation, leading to more efficient combustion, improved power output, and reduced emissions.
The Hyperion engine is turbocharged, allowing for higher power output (up to 91.9 kW at 5000 RPM) and torque (225 Nm at 1750-3000 RPM) from a smaller engine displacement (1.2-litres). Most importantly, the 3-cylinder engine unit is designed to be compact and lightweight, which not only helps in reducing the overall weight but Tata is hoping that it’d further improve fuel efficiency too.
As for the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder Diesel Kryojet engine, it delivers higher power output (86.7 kW at 4000 RPM) and torque (260 Nm at 1500-2750 RPM) while also reducing emissions.
The engine is constructed with materials that offer better heat management and reduce wear and tear on key components. Although vibrations and noise are common concerns with diesel engines, Tata claims that the Kryojet is designed to operate more smoothly, with lower levels of noise, vibration, and harshness.
The Curvv.ev, meanwhile, comes with a 55kWh battery pack paired with a 167hp motor, delivering 0-100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds and an impressive range of up to 585 km. These are strong numbers, but Tata has also provided a realistic minimum range, assuring customers of around 400 km on a full charge.
This represents one of the worst-case scenarios, though the range could drop even further if the EV is driven more aggressively. Additionally, the Curvv.ev offers a 45kWh battery pack option, which provides a range of up to 502 km and is paired with a motor producing around 201 hp and 215 Nm of torque.
Following the launch of the Tata Curvv SUV Coupe, the brand appears more aggressive than ever. The introductory price for the Tata Curvv.ev starts at ₹17.49 lakh (ex-showroom), on par with many petrol automatic SUVs in the country. The ICE variants are also expected to be competitively priced, with announcements likely in early September. Moreover, Tata’s advancements in battery and engine technology, design, and vehicle architecture position the brand ahead of most others in the country.
Tata isn’t stopping with the Curvv EV. The brand is also set to launch the CNG-powered Nexon, the first turbo-powered, factory-fitted CNG SUV in India. The Curvv is likely to get a CNG variant in the future as well. This isn’t the usual CNG setup that reduces boot space; instead, it features Tata’s innovative dual-cylinder iCNG technology, which has even prompted other brands like Hyundai to develop similar systems.
Furthermore, the technology introduced in the Curvv SUV Coupe will eventually trickle down to other products in Tata’s portfolio, effectively refreshing a significant portion of its lineup and making it even more competitive.
At this point, there’s no doubt that Tata is poised to sell a lot of vehicles. The only hurdle remaining is for Tata Motors to provide consistent quality after-sales support, which has historically been a challenge for the rapidly growing brand. With an ever-expanding and impressive product portfolio, the only thing keeping Tata from claiming the top spot is improved after-sales service. If they can master that, they’ll truly be unstoppable—ready to take on the world with all their ducks in a row.
