Upcoming Tata Safari Spied Testing Alongside Toyota Innova

A few days back, Tata Motors revealed that they are bringing back the Safari nameplate in India. The upcoming Tata Gravitas will be called as the new-gen Safari in the Indian market. It was first showcased last year at the 2020 Auto Expo. Once launched, it will compete with the likes MG Hector Plus and upcoming new-gen Mahindra XUV500. It is also popularly known as the 6-seater Harrier. Recently, it was spied while getting tested at night time in Mumbai. The vehicle was partially camouflaged because this is the production-ready version of the car. The upcoming Tata Safari will be based on the company’s OMEGA architecture.

This modular platform is compatible with distinctive body types, electric power plant and an AWD system. Nevertheless, Tata Motors does not have any all-wheel-drive system for a monocoque chassis-based SUV like the all-new Tata Safari. Initially, the upcoming Tata Safari will only be offered with a front-wheel-drive system.

However, the SUV might get a 4X4 trim at later stages. The last 4X4 SUV offered by the automaker was Hexa, which was a body-on-frame SUV. The all-new 7-seater Safari is expected to retain some of its design bits from the original model like an aggressive front-end, high seating arrangement, pronounced hood and stepped roof. This is the same platform, which underpins Tata Harrier.

The 2021 Tata Safari will be the company’s flagship product in India, and one can expect it to come loaded with all the bells and whistles. It will come loaded with features like 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment which will be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Benecke-Kaliko oak brown leather upholstery, JBL speakers, 7-inch digital instrument panel and much more. Mechanically, the new-gen Tata Safari will be powered by a 2.0-litre Kryotec turbo diesel mill, which is capable of shredding out 168bhp of peak power and 350 Nm of twisting force. The same powertrain does duties in Tata Harrier. The engine is rated to offer an ARAI certified mileage of 16.35kmpl. The engine will come coupled to a 6-speed MT. It is expected to be slightly expensive than Tata Harrier.