Along with a sportier profile and new safety features, Tata Safari facelift could get petrol and electric variants
Tata Motors is in the process of updating its cars as per the new design language seen with Curvv Concept. Upcoming products will also be receiving the same treatment. A recent example was Harrier EV that was unveiled at 2023 Auto Expo. Facelift versions of Harrier and Safari will borrow the same design language.
Recent sightings of Safari facelift test mules reveal a number of the changes to the SUV. A facelift is needed, as Safari is facing tough competition from the likes of Scorpio N, XUV700 and new Hector. In April, Safari was at 6th place, with a market share of 8.06 percent in mid-size SUV segment.
Safari facelift styling and features
Safari gets new vertically-stacked lighting that includes the headlamps and fog lamps. Front fascia appears flatter in comparison to the curvy profile of existing model. Lining the bonnet could be a full-width LED strip, as seen with Curvv Concept and Harrier EV. The lower grille and bumper are likely to be updated as well.
Another key update could be a new Tata logo. This will eventually make its way across the portfolio. Tata might retain the existing logo for its commercial vehicles. A similar strategy has already been successfully implemented by Mahindra. With Tata cars evolving into sportier, futuristic machines, the current logo just doesn’t fit in.
Recently spotted Tata Safari facelift test mule can be seen with a new set of alloy wheels. However, the wheel hub is carefully camouflaged, which presents the possibility of a new Tata logo. There’s a distinctive bulge in front top section as well, which again points to the possibility of a new logo. It remains to be seen if the new Tata logo will have minor updates or feature an entirely new design.
Safari facelift could get petrol and electric powertrain
With a sole 2.0-litre diesel motor, powertrain options are fairly limited in case of Safari. To fix the issue, Tata could introduce petrol as well as electric variants of Safari. The petrol motor was showcased at 2023 Auto Expo. It’s a 1.5-litre turbo unit that churns out 170 PS of max power and 280 Nm of peak torque. It will have both manual and automatic transmission. The current diesel engine will be carried forward. It makes 170 PS / 350 Nm and is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
The possibility of electric Safari comes from earlier sightings, where the test mule was seen with shielded alloy wheels. Electric cars usually have these types of alloy wheels to ensure smooth airflow. Moreover, as Harrier EV has already been unveiled, it is only a matter of time until Safari electric makes it to production stage.
Safari facelift is expected to get some new ADAS features. People will also be interested in knowing how Safari performs in Global NCAP crash tests. While Tata cars like Nexon, Punch, Tiago and Tigor have high safety ratings, Safari and Harrier are yet to be tested. Safari and Harrier can gain more traction if they get 5-star safety rating, just like XUV700 and Scorpio-N.
