Spies have recently caught what is beleived to be the Tata Safari, or possibly the new Indicruz MPV in the most uncovered shots to date. Photographed during a fuel stop with a team of British engineers, the Indian company's MPV/SUV is being tested before release as a second-generation.
Tata's Safari is India's first locally produced SUV. Spy shots show off the vehicle's rounded off front, which makes it look a bit more like an MPV, leading to speculation it's the new Indicruz MPV model (aka Xover concept), however it's raised ride height puts it in SUV league in our estimation.
Tata will hopefully lighten the weight of the next-gen Safari, which comes to a massive 2115 kg (4663 lbs). Adding all-wheel-drive also increases the weight by 110 kg (243 lbs). The company is trying to address the fact that their heavy beast is woefully underpowered. A new 3.0-liter turbo diesel Direct Injection Common Rail engine produces 116 PS and 300 Nm of torque. We would hope the next gen gets even more power as well.
If you have never heard of Tata Motors before, perhaps you know them as the new owners of Jaguar-Land Rover. The two divisions were sold to the Indian company last March. Tata Motors also made waves in 2008 with the Tata Nano, a tiny four-person car priced just as small at $2,500.
There is no word yet on a release date for the new Tata Safari. The current model ranges in price from $16,360 to $28,480.
jandrews90
January 21, 2009 8:16 PM
