Tata T.16 Ultra

April 20, 2021: Tata Motors presents the T.16 Ultra, a 6-tyre cargo truck in the 16T GVW ICV category. This modern truck is priced between ₹ 23.56 - ₹ 24.85 lakh, ex-showroom New Delhi. The Ultra trucks are known for their new generation cabin, robust aggregates and superior powertrain. Tata Motors is aiming to attract the new-gen fleet-owners or truck buyers who want a good looking truck that comes with top features, reliable that promise greater revenue earning potentials. T.16 is available in multiple cargo decks that is suitable for several major cargo/logistics applications. This truck can go for medium to long trips with heavy loads, easy to drive and offer greater power. 

Tata T.16 Ultra Engine & GearBox: T.16 Ultra comes with a reasonably higher specification powertrain comprising Tata Motors new generation 5L, BS6 engine with 180hp of power, and churning out a massive 590 Nm of torque. For a smoother driving experience, it is tuned to Tata's G750, manual 6-speed gearbox. 

Tata T.16 Ultra Suspensions: The T.16 Ultra is fitted with a parabolic leaf spring, hydraulic double-acting shock absorbers at the front suspension. The rear is a semi-elliptical leaf spring with hydraulic double-acting shock absorbers.

Tata T.16 Ultra Cabin: One major feature is the modern, safe and comfortable Ultra day cabin with a walk through design. Adequate space inside with storages along with driver+2 person seating capacities.

Tata T.16 Ultra Dimensions: There are four wheelbases available on this truck starting from 3920 mm to all the way 5300 mm in cabin and body and high side deck options. The ground clearance is 228 mm, and the gradeability of this ICV 25.2%.

Tata T.16 Ultra Rivals: The T.16 takes on rivals such as Ashok Leyland Ecomet 1615 HE, BharatBenz 1617R, Mahindra Furio 16  & Eicher Pro 3015.

Overview

Tata Motors T.16 Ultra is a 6-tyre, 16T gross vehicle truck that caters to the top-end of the highly popular intermediate commercial vehicle segment. As the name suggests, this truck is based on the modern Ultra platform of Tata Motors where the cabin is the key highlight. To offer a wider choice to customers and target the new, more discerning buyers, Tata Motors offers this ICV along with the LPT platform. The Ultra truck clearly stands out in terms of design, overall appearance, performance and features. The new truck basically takes the company’s offering to the next level. The market leader has tested and validated Ultra trucks extensively on Indian road conditions and duty-cycles, combining modern design, new technologies, and superior performance.

The T.16 Ultra takes on aggressive rivals in this segment with its distinct features and robust powertrain with key performance characteristics. Tata Motors is offering key advantages to the truck buyers to help in running an efficient fleet with overall superior performance, lower total cost-of-ownership, comfortable and convenient truck, multiple choices, connectivity, and peaceful ownership experience to boost the fleet. Let's get into a little detail of this ICV. 

Exterior

Take a glance at T.16 from any exterior angle, it feels quite elegant with a new design language that has sharp curves and arches. The world-class Ultra-narrow cabin designed with modern styling and aerodynamically makes the truck quite look distinctive and premium. The cabin is among the first in the segment with full crash-tested for driver safety and made in all-steel. The walkthrough cabin has a wider door opening angles for ease in and out of the truck. Tata Motors ensures the cabin is liked by the drivers and the owners alike. 

T.16 Ultra also gets convenient footsteps to get in, the clear lens headlamps and tail lamp appear highly attractive and nicely integrated with the body frame with LED lamps. What you also see from the exterior is the 9R2016 PR - all-steel radial tubeless tyres that have a wider tread surface, less rolling resistance aimed at better fuel mileage, effortless easier steerability & greater driving comfort. Importantly, the tyres offer longer life & better tyre mileage reducing your cost significantly. Taking into account this is a 16T truck that goes from intercity trips, the fuel tank size is 160L capacity of diesel and the DEF tank with 25L capacities. 

Interior

Not only the exterior but the cabin of this Ultra truck is equally compelling inside. Once you’re in, you find the spacious and roomy cabin that gets quite upmarket material, plastics and seat fabrics. The steering of this truck is integrated with hydraulic power steering for greater stability during high speed. The tilt & telescopic mechanism is adjustable to help the driver with his height. Also, the four-spoke soft-touch steering wheel is quite soft that offers superior driving comfort & low steering effort.

Next is the comfortable seating that comes with Melba fabric for seats for better comfort both in summer and winter. The cabin hosts a driver and two co-passenger quite comfortably with a bucket seat for the driver, bench seating for the co-passenger. The driver seat comes with height adjustable features and an integrated headrest and armrest in the centre, this ensures the driver feels less fatigue and stays productive. 

One more key highlight of the cabin interior is the new instrument clusters that are equipped with key driver information like average fuel economy indicator, distance to empty, digital service reminder, digital air & oil pressure gauges, digital DEF gauge and battery voltage indicator. 

Moreover, driver coaching features like gear shift advisor, over-speed alert, driver message screen for any malfunction and power take-off sign. For driver’s entertainment, a factory-fitted music system with Blaupunkt speakers and white illumination facia and ignition switches help the driver in the night. Besides this, there are new diagnostics & driver prompt features including DPF regeneration indicator, SCR system fault indicator, high exhaust system, temperature indicator, air filter clogged indicator, and low DEF indicator. Clearly, Tata Motors has made the T.16 cabin quite premium that is packed with features that set this truck apart from rivals. 

Performance

The performance of the T.16 Ultra also makes it one of the premium products in the category. At the heart of this is the proven 4SPCR BS6 engine that is now further refined to offer better mileage and reliability. The comes with enhanced for better drivability that is tuned with improved low-end torque and flat torque, which is 590 Nm at peak this an increase of 20 per cent for more pulling power. The engine is tuned to a G750, 6-speed, manual synchromesh gearbox.

The engine is supported by equally strong aggregates like the front suspension which is a parabolic leaf for smooth and comfort at variable loads, at the rear is a semi-elliptical leaf spring with an auxiliary spring for easily carrying heavy loads. Air brakes with a separate vacuum pump, with improved & safer stopping ability. The brakes are maintenance-free with high braking efficiency, reliability & safety. The banjo types rear axle for more load-carrying capacity with lesser prone to leakage. The e-viscous fan cools the engine temperature and improves its performance leads to better fuel efficiency and lesser fuel cost.

Another aspect of the performance is the chassis which comes with high strength steel in 800 grade with high tensile strength. The company says this chassis is the strongest in its class with bolted design for increased modularity.

Safety

In terms of safety, the T.16 Ultra is the best in the industry with some key elements that give the driver a sense of security. The all-steel cabin is strong which is also crash-tested with global standard. The air brakes with a separate vacuum pump for improved & safer stopping ability. The higher braking makes the truck efficient, reliable & safer. Also, the guided and safe reversing of vehicles help in the prevention of damage and loss of productivity. The truck comes with white illumination facia and ignition switches for driver guidance at night, similarly, there are several in-built safety elements in the truck.

Verdict 

The Ultra trucks are undoubtedly the new breeds of trucks that appeal not just to the regular truck buyers but also to the new modern fleet owners who are looking at the latest trucks. The T.16 Ultra clearly leads the pack in the Ultra family of trucks with a high 16T of GVW with key aggregates and segment-best features. If you’re in the market for an ICV in the upper bracket, then T.16 should be on your radar.