Exclusive! New Tata turbo petrol engine for Auto Expo 2014

After we first broke the the news about Tata Motors developing a new 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine back in November 2013, fresh details are now emerging closer to the launch. 

 

Enthusiasts will be disappointed to learn that this new 1.2-litre turbo petrol motor will produce only about 80bhp – a figure that is bettered by most similar sized, naturally aspirated engines (the 1.2-litre petrol Swift makes 84bhp). However, our sources reveal that the company’s prime focus is on reducing fuel consumption and delivering better drivability, rather than outright performance. In fact, Tata Motors is confident about achieving a very high fuel economy figure in the official Indian Driving Cycle (IDC). 

 

Though the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine has its roots in the cast-iron cylinder block of the 1.2 Xeta Motor, it is, for all practical purposes, an all-new motor. The block has been redesigned for better stiffness and  balance, weight has been significantly reduced and the cylinder head is all-new as well. The new engine will be launched with a two-valve-per-cylinder head but a four-valve head is also being developed. The company’s long-standing TA65 gearbox will be mated to the new engine but again, it has been significantly improved with a smoother shift. 

 

This 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor will be Tata Motor’s first all-new petrol engine since the Nano’s 624cc two-cylinder motor back in 2009. It will debut in the company’s new hatchback, codenamed Falcon, which will be revealed at the Auto Expo 2014 in New Delhi. The 1.2-litre turbo engine will form the base of a new family of engines, which, in the future, will include larger-capacity motors and direct fuel-injection.