Rs 15 lakh flagship SUV to get a major update
Tata SUV lineup has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. Its newer SUVs like the Harrier and Nexon are dominating their respective segments. Such has been its growth that Tata even dared to bring back the iconic Safari nameplate in a new avatar. The Safari is essentially a 7-seater version of the Harrier, but it is still raking in good sales for Tata. However, the XUV700 is slowly eating up the sales of the Safari. To reverse this, Tata is working on giving Safari a major update. The project is codenamed ‘Project Q5MCE’. In today’s article, we will talk about the Rs 15 lakh flagship SUV which is set to get a major update.
Design
The Safari is already a good-looking SUV. So what can Tata do more? A new headlamp, tail lamp and grille are expected in the facelift. Moreover, we could also see a new alloy wheel design to go with the other changes.
Rs 15 lakh flagship SUV – New specifications
Though diesel is the preferred choice in this segment, more options are never a bad thing. Tata is working on a new petrol engine for the Safari and Harrier. According to sources, it will be a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit. Interestingly, Tata is just adding an extra cylinder to the 1.2-litre petrol engine. What about the power figures? This engine will have to produce at least 150bhp to power a big car like Safari. What else can Tata improve? The Tata Safari is often criticised for the absence of a 4×4 or AWD drive system like the older Safari. So can Tata bring a 4×4 or AWD system? We wish, but technically, the OMEGA-Arc platform does not support such drivetrains. Tata is however re-working the suspension for improved off-road capabilities.
New features
Features have become an integral part of car buying decision. According to our sources, Tata is working on a new infotainment system for the Safari as well as the Harrier. Tata is also working on adding a 360-degree camera. What else can Tata add? The Safari could get some ADAS features to take on the XUV700. Do let us know in the comments if these new features will excite you.
Rs 15 lakh flagship SUV – Launch and pricing
So when can we expect the Safari facelift launch? According to our sources, it is expected to be launched in the first half of 2023. Still, a lot of depends on the ongoing chip shortage. What about pricing? With the addition of a petrol engine, we expect the starting price of the Safari to drop. The Tata Safari facelift could start from somewhere around Rs 15 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
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