KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Tata Safari spied fully camouflaged
- Most likely with a tubro petrol engine
- Read the full report to know more details
Last month, we at 91Wheels spotted the Tata Safari fully camouflaged testing in the Delhi NCR area with a new turbo petrol (assumption) engine. Now, a new test mule has been sighted, and according to several media reports, it also features a petrol unit. All of this is happening because Safari/Harrier sales have not been up to the projected numbers as they come with a sole diesel engine. Let's take a deep dive into this fresh piece of news, and in the meantime, make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.
Also Read: Land Cruiser 300 Gets New Powertrain, Styling Globally - India Bound?
Tata Safari
This spy shot doesn't tell us anything about the powertrain we believe it's carrying - but it has been a known fact that Tata is working on a new engine for their flagship SUV - Safari and its counterpart Harrier, as till now they are offering with just one - a 2.0L diesel engine, which is great, but rivals have multiple powertrains on offer. Here, the parked Safari with full protective covers has everything similar - be it overall design, alloy wheels, or features.
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.
Verdict
Most likely, Tata will launch this car by the end of this year or in early 2026, as competition is getting really tough. Mahindra is constantly improving and has left a mark on Indian customers with multiple powertrain options and a plethora of variants. Recently, it was also reported that the XUV700 facelift is in the works. So, to catch up on sales numbers, Tata needs to launch this iteration sooner.
