Auto Expo 2012 - Tata Motors launches Safari Storme
Tata Motors today unveiled the new Tata Safari Strome, the latest iteration of the Safari, at the Auto Expo 2012. They also showed the Tata Ultra, the company's new LCV & ICV range, and the Tata LPT 3723, a 5-axle rigid truck. These vehicles will be available from March 2012.
The Safari Storm looks like a facelifted version of the previous gen Safari, with a new front grille, bulge in the bonnet and different side panelling, though there have been some changes made to it on the handling front with new a 4-channel ABS with EBD, discs on all wheels and a new rack-and-pinion steering. The Safari Storme has the same 2.2-litre 16-valve common rail (DiCOR) engine making 140PS of power and 320 Nm of torque with a variable geometry turbocharger. Also on display was the Tata Starbus Fuel Cell concept, an initiative by Tata Motors with support from the Government of India's dept. of scientific and industrial research, under the technology development and demonstration programme. The vehicle will run on hydrogen and oxygen fuel cell that will charge a battery to power the vehicle forward, the only emission from this process being water. The motor will output a peak power figure of 250PS at 600-2100 rpm and a humongous 1050Nm at 800 rpm.
There were also a host of other concept vehicles to see at the Tata Motors stall. Notable mentions were the Nano CNG, the Indigo Manza diesel-electric hybrid car, the Starbus Fuel Cell (hydrogen) vehicle and the Magic Iris CNG. Showcasing their alternative fuel technology and adding to their existing portfolio which includes the Indica Vista Electric and CNG-electric hybrid buses.