Tata Motors brings back Safari, codenamed Gravitas

The Tata Safari is back, in a new avatar! Tata Motors has announced that it is bringing back its iconic Safari brand with its forthcoming flagship SUV (codenamed Gravitas). It may be recollected that the Tata Safari introduced India to the SUV lifestyle over two decades ago. The Safari will have a Republic Day unveiling.

Announcing the formal branding of its forthcoming SUV as the ‘Tata Safari’, Shailesh Chandra – President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors,said, “We are proud and elated to re-introduce our flagship SUV – Safari. The Safari, an iconic brand with a strong following, has been the most-sought-after SUV on Indian roads for well over two decades. In its new avatar, the Safari will appeal to the socially active, fun-loving customers who seek out unique experiences and adventure. Its design, performance, versatility, features, and long lasting build quality, reinforce the SUV lifestyle to provide unending pleasure. We are confident that the launch of the Safari will once again re-energise the market, amplifying its cult status.”

In order to make space for the third row of seats, Tata Motors has added 63mm to the Harrier’s length and 80mm to the height – the Safari is expected to be 4,661mm long, 1,894mm wide, 1,786mm tall and have a 2,741mm wheelbase.

While styling differences between the Gravitas and the Safari at the front will be subtle, from the B-pillar onwards, Tata’s new flagship SUV will look distinct. A longer rear overhang and a stepped roof, along with additional colour options for the exteriors, will help set the Gravitas apart. A new alloy wheel design for the three-row SUV will also help distinguish between the two.

The 170hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, which comes with 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox options, are shared between the two SUVs. In addition, the interior and features list are also expected to be similar.

The added weight from the enlargement and row of seats compared to the Harrier means that the Safari is expected to deliver less than the five-seat SUV’s 16.35kpl (MT) and 14.63kpl (AT) ARAI mileage figures. The three-row SUV is also expected to post slower times than the Harrier’s performance figures.

According to Tata Motors, the new Safari will arrive in showrooms later this month and bookings will begin shortly. Stay tuned for more details.