TATA ACE - The King of SCV Segment
Published On Jul 25, 2019
Among customers, both prospective and old, Tata Motors holds a respected position. And that’s not just because how enamoured the Tata Group is (or the legacy of JRD Tata — and more importantly Ratan Tata) but also due to the way it’s given the market path-breaking products. Being at the right place at the right time is one thing, whereas putting an extra mile of effort always is where Tata Motors excels. And the perfectly suitable example of that is the Tata Ace.
A mini truck (small commercial vehicle) launched in the year 2005, the Ace was an idea through which Tata channelled its efforts towards a better future before anyone else. The Ace’s development began in the year 2002 after the Group was eventually convinced that the market needed a vehicle smaller than LCVs but larger than conventional three-wheelers. It brought along a fair bit of outsourcing of parts for Tata Motors, a new two-cylinder engine (which helped the Ace stand out among its rivals), and a success that’s instrumental in the company’s overall growth — and sustenance.
Roughly a decade and a half later, the Ace has had more than 2 million units on the road (22 lakh, from the company figures), and has spawned a fair bit of models on the platform. Tata Ace Gold is the latest iteration, launched last year, which now sits in place of the original Ace. But you may wonder what makes it special today. And the answer to that is that the Ace Gold offers a variety of strong points.
To start with, it’s rugged and well-built, but is also known for easy serviceability. It’s offered with a warranty of 2 years of 72,000 km and with a wide reach (with over 1600 service points around the country). Ease of ownership is further brought with a claimed fuel economy of 21 kmpl (which with a 30-litre fuel tank should give it a decent range). But what about its power, you must wonder. The Ace Gold continues to be powered by its original 702 cc 2-cylinder IDI diesel engine that makes 15.55 bhp at 3200 rpm and 39Nm at 2000 rpm. The engine facilitates a gradability of 22 per cent and a payload (in standard form) of 710 kg and a load body length of 2.2 metres.
It’s got leaf spring suspension at both front and rear, so it can soak in the harshest of bumps, hence enabling its use in places where roads are far from perfect — it comes with 12-inch tyres and a minimum ground clearance of 150 mm. And where the roads are good (urban areas), the Ace’s size isn’t bound to be a deterrent, either, given that the 2.1 m wheelbase enables the Ace to be agile — boasting a minimum turning radius of 4.3 metres. Talking of dimensions, the Ace Gold measures 3.8 metres in length, 1.5 metres in width, and 1.85 metres in height (unladen). Without any load, It weighs 840 kilos.
Of course, there are more Ace-based choices, if you’re looking at both ends of the spectrum. On one hand, there’s the smaller Ace Zip whereas on the other you have the Ace Mega and Super Ace Mint, which offer up to 1-tonne payload, maximum power of up to 70 bhp 140 Nm, and even features like power steering, independent front suspension, and a longer warranty, too.
With the Ace, Tata Motors has covered a large section of the market. And while its supremacy isn’t quite unchallenged as it once was, the Ace continues to offer its customers a wide range of options so that it matches exactly what one needs. Which alone makes the Ace the king of the segment!
