The Tata Safari is arguably essentially the most iconic SUV in India’s automotive historical past.
One take a look at the gross sales charts and it’s clear that we Indians love SUVs, a lot so, that we would like one as an possibility in just about each dimension. Recognizing this development, virtually each automaker sells an SUV throughout their value vary and should you take a look at latest automobile launches, most of them are SUVs as nicely. But if we return to the place it began then arguably, it goes to 1998 – the 12 months when Tata Motors got here out with the Safari. A mid-sized SUV by at present’s customary, however when the Safari got here out 22 years in the past, it was seen as the final word type of luxurious.
Now, nevertheless, as India has moved to BS-VI emission norms – they turned necessary from April 1, 2020 – the Tata Safari has sadly pushed into the sundown. And given how everybody’s caught up with information associated to the Coronavirus pandemic, we thought that maybe having a look on the legacy of the Safari will function a great reminder concerning the ‘OG’ SUV as we couldn’t give it the farewell it deserved.
And only for nostalgia’s sake, we now have additionally listed among the ads of the Safari from again within the day to carry a smile to those that bear in mind seeing it and inform those that haven’t, simply how cool these advertisements had been. Trust us, you’ll need to watch all of them.
The launch of the Tata Safari occurred on the Auto Expo in 1998 the place it initially got here with a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that made 90 hp and 186 Nm of torque and was priced at Rs 8.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). So sure, it was a bit underpowered given how heavy the automobile was weighing in at about 2 tonnes, however that didn’t appear to discourage consumers as the most important draw for the Safari was the street presence that the automobile had and the consolation that’s supplied.
READ MORE: Tata Nexon XZ+(S) Variant With Sunroof Introduced in India at Rs 10.10 Lakh
This went on for about 5 years submit which, Tata Motors added a extra highly effective petrol engine possibility within the lineup within the type of a 2.1-litre unit that made 135 hp of energy and price Rs 9.35 lakh. While this undoubtedly supplied extra energy than earlier than, it additionally meant that the SUV returned a gas efficiency of 6 km per litre.
Fast ahead to the 12 months 2005 and it was time for one more diesel engine choice to be added within the type of a large 3.0-litre DICOR diesel engine which got here at a time when new, stricter emission norms had come into place. This made 115 hp and 300 Nm of torque providing the proper mixture of energy and torque that the SUV had to this point. On high of that, Safari noticed a discount in value too because it was now priced at Rs 6.four lakh.
It was then, in 2007, when Tata Motors launched Tata Safari DICOR which got here with a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which was smaller than the diesel engine it was changing however made extra energy and torque than earlier than – 140 hp and 320 Nm torque.
The Tata Safari DICOR got here with options like ABS and twin airbags and supplied a alternative of a rear-wheel-drive variant and even a 4×4 possibility. This engine was so good that it’s going to go on to energy the Safari for the subsequent ten years. What additionally got here with this model of the Safari was not solely one of the common TV commercials of the Tata Safari however maybe one of the iconic advertisements made by the Indian automotive business. Take a take a look at it beneath.
This brings us to 2017 when the Safari DICOR mentioned goodbye and was faraway from the Tata Motors web site marking the tip of an period. The legacy, nevertheless, was carried on by the Tata Safari Storme which was launched in 2012 however remained as the one out there model of the Safari for buy. At the time of its introduction, the Safari Storme got here with the identical 2.2-litre diesel engine DICOR engine. This was meant to be the premium model of the Safari.
In 2015, the Tata Safari Storme was up to date with the two.2-litre VARICOR 400 engine that made 156 bhp and a large 400 Nm of torque.
And now, in 2020, the Tata Safari Storme has gone off sale. Tata Motors determined to update the likes of the Tata Nexon and the Tata Harrier to BS-VI emission norm however the Safari sadly didn’t make the minimize. However, for many who knew concerning the Safari for all these a few years will know that it was recognized for consolation, it’s 4×4 capabilities, the excessive seating place which gave the view of your complete bonnet to the entrance passengers and in addition, avenue presence and avenue cred that has nonetheless not been matched by some other SUV. The Tata Safari has made a singular spot of its personal and right here’s a bonus commercial beneath which really sums up the sentiment concerning the automobile and is an ideal tribute to what was the final word SUV.
This post was last modified on April 19, 2020 3:40 pm