Tata Motors opens bookings for new Safari ahead of February 22 launch

Twenty days after it took the covers off its new Safari flagship SUV, Tata Motors has opened bookings today for the premium SUV. The new Safari is on display and available for test drives across the company’s dealer network. Deliveries will begin on February 22, 2021, when the vehicle will be officially launched.

According to Shailesh Chandra, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, ‘The new Safari has received a great response especially with respect to its premium design and outstanding comfort in all three rows of seats. We are confident that the Safari will instill a feeling of power, prestige and excitement to our customers.”

Style-wise, the new Tata Safari is similar to the Harrier with which it shares its platform. From the nose to the C-pillar, save for the new grille, there are few distinguishing elements between the two SUVs. The differences like in the longer rear overhang, roof rails with chrome inserts, and a stepped roof design (reminiscent of the previous-generation model).

The interior of the Safari is largely similar to the Harrier, but for the third row of seats. The Safari comes with six and seven-seat options, with buyers being able to opt for captain seats (six-seater) in the middle row, or a bench-seat (seven-seater), albeit only on the top-spec trim. A new colour scheme also makes the cabin look more premium and upmarket.

Powertrain options
The Tata Safari, like the Harrier, is powered by a 2.0-litre Kyrotec turbo-diesel engine producing 170hp and 350Nm. The Safari can either be had with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox. 

Although the Safari is currently only available with front-wheel-drive, the Land Rover derived Omega architecture it is based on was designed to incorporate a four-wheel-drive system. Given this, Tata may develop a 4x4 variant in the future. 

Six variants on offer
The Safari will be on offer in six variants – XE, XM, XT, XT+, XZ, and XZ+. At launch, Tata Motors will offer an automatic gearbox option only with the XM, XZ, and XZ+ trims. 

The top-spec Safari will come with front, side, and curtain airbags, hill-descent control, terrain response modes, an electronic parking brake, 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon HID headlights, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with iRA connected car tech, a 9-speaker JBL audio system, a 7.0-inch digital display in the instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, powered driver’s seat, and much more.

The new Safari will compete with other three-row SUVs currently sold in India, such as the Mahindra XUV500, MG Hector Plus, and when they launch later this year, the next-gen Mahindra XUV500 and Hyundai’s new seven-seat Creta-based SUV.

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