It’s only a few hours and Tata will be unveiling the much anticipated Safari SUV in the Indian market. The brand had earlier teased us with the layout of the 6-seater model and the 6-seater with captain seats in light beige leatherette upholstery was also spotted at a dealers stockyard.
The model spotted yesterday is likely to the high-end variant of the Safari and now a base variant Tata Safari has been spotted and its interiors snapped. The base model is expected to be named XE and features 7-seats with a bench-style middle row. The interiors are also less equipped than the higher-spec Safari and the cabin comes with a dark interior theme and fabric upholstery.
According to the spy shots from the youtube channel ‘All Rounder Pattathari’, the base model features a smaller audiotainment display housed in the same layout taking its place in the centre of the dashboard, rotary controls for the manual air-conditioning system, analogue instruments cluster with a digital multi-information display in between, no controls on the steering wheel and then there is a manual park brake similar to the one on the Harrier, instead of the electric unit. The soft-touch materials on the doors are also expected to be replaced with fabrics.
The exterior design of the base model is expected to remain the same except for a few changes. The 17-inch alloy wheels are expected to be replaced with 16-inch steel rims and the body-coloured ORVMs which are on the higher-spec trims are also expected to be finished in black in the base variant. Other than this, the brand might make minute cost-cutting changes which are expected to be revealed tonight.
In the engine department, no changes are expected except the automatic transmission. The base variant is expected to come with the 6-speed manual unit matched to the same FCA-derived 2.0-litre Kryotec Diesel motor that produces 170 Hp of power and 350 Nm of torque. Higher-spec versions are expected to come with optional 6-speed torque converter type automatic gearbox.