Tata Motors has released a new teaser image of its upcoming flagship SUV 'Safari' aka the production version of Gravitas, revealing the front facia of the car. The teaser image confirms that the 2021 Tata Safari will get a differently styled grille than the Harrier, featuring chrome-finished Tata's signature triangular elements that are pointing towards the brand's logo at the center.
The grille looks very premium, and it is quite different from the Gravitas, which was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo. These types of arrow elements can also be seen on the existing model of Nexon, Tiago & Tigor. The grille is harmonizing splendidly with the new dark blue color. The rest of the front design looks similar to the Harrier. It will get the same split headlamp setup, featuring LED DRLs on both sides of the grille, whereas the main headlamp unit is positioned on the bumper.
The latest spy shot of the upcoming Safari straight from Tata's manufacturing plant also suggests that the headlamp unit will also get chrome garnishings, whereas the lower portion of the bumper and the air dam will get an all-black treatment. It is also expected to get faux skid plates at both ends.
In the above image, the side profile of the car seems identical to the Gravitas. However, in comparison to the 5-seater Harrier, it features a larger rear quarter glass, a stepped-up roof, a redesigned C-pillar design, and stout roof rails. The model exposed in the image having a steel rim set, which suggests it's a lower trim.
The Safari is likely to come in both 6 and 7-seat configurations. It could also get a new black-beige dual-tone cabin theme, instead of Harrier's black-brown color scheme. As far as the features are concerned, the Safari is expected to get a host of new features including connected car technology, front parking sensors, electronic parking brake, wireless charger, and air purifier.
Being a three-row version of the Harrier, the new Safari will be longer & taller than the 5-seater model to accommodate the third passenger row. However, the width (1,894mm) and the wheelbase of the car (2,741mm) will remain the same.
Under the hood, the Safari will also house the same Fiat-sourced 2.0-liter Kryotec diesel engine that produces 170PS of maximum power and 350Nm of peak torque. Gearbox choices are also expected to be similar to the Harrier: 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter unit, which will transmit the mechanical force to the front wheels. Tata could also introduce a new 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine & 4×4 drivetrain in the later stage.
The all-new Tata Safari will be launched later this month, while advance-bookings are expected to start soon. In terms of pricing, it will surely demand a premium of around Rs 1 lakh over the 5-seater Harrier, which is currently priced between Rs 13.84 and 20.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). In the Indian market, the 2021 Safari will be positioned against the likes of MG Hector Plus and Mahindra XUV500.
