2021 Tata Safari to come with connected tech
As we inch closer to the launch of the 2021 Tata Safari, we have new spy shots of the car being tested around Pune with minimal camouflage. It isn't hard to see that the production-spec Safari will look very close to the Tata Gravitas concept shown at the 2020 Auto Expo. The rear end is longer, of course, to make room for the third row of seats, while the roof gets a stepped design towards the rear and incorporates a large third window, much similar to the original Safari.
A few hours ago, Tata has even teased an image of the Safari's taillights, which features a twin-slat detailing that will give it a clear distinction over the Harrier's taillights. To refresh your memory, the Gravitas project started life as a three-row variant of the Harrier, but earlier this month Tata announced that it will call it the Safari instead.
Unlike the original body-on-frame Safari, the new one is based on a monocoque chassis, which is derived from the JLR D8 platform, which in Tata-speak is called OMEGArc or Optimal Modular Efficient Global Architecture. It will be powered by a Fiat-sourced 2.0 Multijet II engine similar to the Harrier, albeit with a 174PS tune similar to the Jeep Compass.
The other big news is, of course, the presence of connected tech. The 2021 Tata Safari's dashboard with house an 8.8-inch infotainment system that will come with an embedded SIM and host connected features like remote lock/unlock, remote control of the headlights and horn, location-based services like geofencing and valet mode, security functions like vehicle tracking and theft alerts, easy access to RSA and emergency services etc. The Safari will also have smartphone-enabled functions through the Tata iRA (Intelligent Real-time Assist) app, like trip monitoring, fuel status, service alerts and tracking etc. These connected features, along with the three-row configuration should help the new Tata Safari take on the likes of the MG Hector Plus.