Key highlights
- Tata Safari test mule spotted in Gurugram
- Likely to be testing the upcoming 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine
- Petrol Safari model is slated to launch later this year
Tata Motors is testing the upcoming petrol engine that is going to power the Harrier and Safari in future. A recent test mule has been spotted in Delhi/NCR, hinting at the petrol engine testing underway. Read more below.
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Tata Safari new test mule seen – What to expect?
As seen in the latest spy shots, the Safari test car looks similar to the current model, which is already on sale in India. However, the good possibility is that Tata is testing a new engine underneath it.
Tata has been working on the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol TGDi engine, which is speculated to power Harrier and Safari models in the coming months.
The test car seen here is most likely running the petrol engine, as it makes a lot more sense to launch soon. While the company has not revealed a launch timeline for this engine, we speculate that it will mark its debut later this year.
The biggest benefit that the 1.5-litre petrol engine will give to Tata will be the lowered price tag. The entry-level variants of the Harrier petrol could be positioned below the Rs 20 lakh mark easily.
This engine is speculated to develop 170 bhp and 280 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. Tata will offer the 1.5 TGDi engine with a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCA automatic gearbox.
Our verdict
The recently spotted Safari test car is most likely a petrol engine variant. If so, then Tata is nearing the launch timeline of its first-ever petrol SUV engine for the mid-size segment. More details are likely to surface in the coming months.