After the Safari Storme failed to make much of an impression in the market, Tata Motors is making amends to the SUV and a refreshed version with partial camouflage was spotted by our friends at CarToq on the roads of Pune. Updates on the Safari Storme include a revised front fascia with a new front grille featuring honeycomb grille, while the bumper also receives certain changes to complete the new look. The chunky chrome slat has been retained. The updates however are more extensive on the inside, with a host of features coming from the Aria facelift launched earlier this year.
The new Tata Safari Storme is expected to get the Harman Kardon touchscreen Infotainment system, while the automaker will be adding front facing third row of seats for improved passenger comfort. We also expect to see the powertrain updated with the 2.2-litre VARICOR turbo diesel engine producing 150 PS of power (current model produces 140 PS), paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. While earlier rumours suggested of a 6-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF to finally be introduced on the Safari Storme, CarToq reports that the refreshed model will still not get the option.
Tata has not been able to replete the Safari’s success with the Storme model that was launched in 2012. With a slew of new and better compact SUVs coming in the same price range, the Safari has lost its steam and needs a major overhaul to live up to its reputation. We also expect Tata to refurbish the variant lineup on the Safari Storme with a more competitive price tag. With the Mahindra Scorpio facelift just a few weeks away from launch, the updated Safari isn’t too far from launch either. Tata will also launch the updated Nano with an operating hatch later this year.
Source – CarToq.com