After Tata Motors unveiled the Safari Storme at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi, there was lot of hype in the auto industry, and the SUV was arbitrated as a worthy competitor in the segment. However, the Tata Safari Storme breaking cover in July is a tad more than what we saw at the Auto Expo.
In terms of design, the new Safari Storme features lightweight design, owing to its hydroform chassis. Powering the Tata SUV is a 2.2-litre, 16-valve, DiCOR engine featuring variable geometry turbocharger that gives improved fuel-economy at low speeds and raw power at high speeds. The turbocharged diesel unit is good for 138 bhp peak power and 320 Nm torque. Mated to the diesel motor is a 5-speed manual gearbox. Adding substance to its off-road abilities is the Electronic shift-on-the-fly (ESOF) function, that helps shifting from two-wheel-drive to all-wheel-drive on the go. Sitting at just 200mm from the ground, the Safari Storme features best-in-class ground clearance.
Tata will platform the Safari Storme alongside the Aria and the current Safari. Moreover, the Indian automaker will continue selling the current Safari even after the new Safari Storme is launched in the market next month. Expect Tata to aggressively price the new SUV in the range of INR 9-12 lacs. Watch this space for more from the upcoming Tata Safari Storme SUV.
