KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- 91Wheels Exclusive.
- Tata Safari spied - fully camouflaged.
- No design changes visible.
- Could be testing with a 1.5L turbo petrol.
While doing office chores from Delhi to Gurgaon, we spotted a fully camouflaged Tata Safari - most likely being tested. The big question here is what Tata has changed in this already feature-packed facelifted variant. We predict that particular car might be featuring a new 1.5L turbo petrol unit. To add more, it has been reported several times, that a Safari/Harrier will add a new petrol powertrain, and we suspect this could be it. More information, is below, in the meantime, make sure to join 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.
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Tata Safari
Tata Safari - built on the JLR D8 OmegaArc platform - is a class apart SUV, known for offering supremely comfortable ride, spacious second and third rows, top-notch modern features and a reliable, punchy 2.0L diesel engine. This powertrain is both a major strength and a drawback. While it's a popular engine which excels in providing strong power and refinement at the same time achieves 14 to 15 kmpl of fuel efficiency easily. However, in regions like Delhi NCR, people are often hesitant due to the 10-year diesel life. Plus, Safari rivals like - Mahindra XUV700, MG Hector Plus, and Toyota Innova Hycross, all offer a petrol engine.
This drawback is resulting in poor sales, and that's why Tata is working on a new 1.5L turbo petrol engine. While no concrete information is out there, it has become imperative for the brand to offer a different powertrain for people who want to keep their car for at least 15 years. That brings us to the latest news that Tata has fully acquired the 2.0L multi-jet diesel engine from Stellantis Group. The original owners of this engine were Fiat, but that Italian company also comes under the Stellantis group. Now, Tata has full ownership, so they can tweak the engine to make it compatible with the government's upcoming emissions, increase its power figure or revamp its ECU. This brings to another point, that this camouflaged Safari could be with a re-tuned diesel engine.
Laslty, from design point of view it was exactly the same and was seen wearing R17 alloy wheels. Plus, a sneak peek into the interior hints that this version features a panoramic screen - featuring both infotainment and MID, but we aren't sure of that, as the image is quite blurred.
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Verdict
If a petrol unit enters the Safari and Harrier, there are huge chances that sales of both cars will get a boost. However, if Tata really wants to pull people towards a petrol engine, they need to make it a hybrid powertrain. As, this is a perfect solution to offer great mileage, which is the biggest marketing a car could have. Now, let's see when it comes to life.
