Tata Safari Storme complete details

It evoked plenty of oohs and aahs way back in 1998 when the Tata Safari came into the market. And even now after 14 years of its existence it still remains an aspirational vehicle for many. And it’s not without a reason. Massive presence, butch looks and loads of space meant it barely had any rivals. And all this at a very attractive price tag made it the choice of many. Naturally when news of the new Safari Storme started floating around, expectations were high and benchmarks were expected to be raised. The covers finally came off at the Auto Expo and people finally got to see the next generation Safari.

The looks sadly haven’t changed much and the design department has done quite a lazy job with the Storme. In fact if just the silhouette is seen one would be hard pressed to differentiate it from the older car. The new face consists of all new bumper and a honeycomb grille which looks a lot more contemporary. No swept back headlights like in the Aria and the Manza but they do get projectors. The sides get a wider running board and new design alloy wheels. The rear receives its fair share of changes as well. The twin chrome-tipped exhausts add a bit of sportiness to the design, aided by the high-mounted spoiler. The spare has been relocated to under the floor from the rear door and the door gets a chrome strip and a grey-coloured band to liven things up. All combined the Storme at 4655mm long, 1965mm wide and 1922 high is 5mm longer, 47mm wider and 3mm lower than the older Safari.

Also Read: Safari to whip up a Storme?

Moving inside reminds one of the Aria. Lot of parts sharing can be seen which is not a bad thing at all.  Quality of materials has gone up and plastics feel a lot better too. The beige coloured bits make the car feel pretty airy and quite upmarket too. The dash is an all new design as well and features a totally revised centre console. The Safari was top dog when it came to rear seat comfort and the Storme moves the game even further. There is loads of space at the back and legroom is something the Storme’s passengers will never have a problem with.

While one might be disappointed with the familiar exteriors when it comes to the mechanicals Tata has made sure that the Storme is unlike its predecessor in any way. Under the all new hood lies the similar 2.2 litre engine now re-designated as the VariCOR with Variable Turbine Technology churning out exactly the same power figures (140 PS & 320 Nm).Slight modifications to the engine calibration make it even more responsive and refined. The new car also features a separate transfer case like the older car with Tata not opting for the Aria’s full-time four-wheel-drive system. Also the shift on the fly switch which was on the dashboard earlier has now been relocated near the gear lever.

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On the chassis front, the ladder frame chassis is now replaced by the very same underpinnings of the modern Aria. Though it is 200mm shorter than the Aria’s frame (which makes the Storme’s wheelbase exactly same as the earlier Safari at 2650mm), torsional rigidity has gone up while the weight has gone down. Getting to numbers, the hydroformed chassis is as much as 35 kg lighter and a whopping 45 percent stiffer than the older frame. Another welcome addition from the Aria is the double wishbone and McPherson strut set up in front giving it better handling characteristics which is further aided by the 235 section 16 inch tyres. The steering gear is borrowed from the Aria as well and this, along with the 80mm wider track, has helped reduce the Safari’s massive 12 metre turning circle to a much more manageable 10.8 metres.

It’s decently loaded too, with ABS, airbags, power windows across variants and leather seats. However with competition catching up in the form of the Mahindra XUV 5oo and the Renault Duster, the Safari Storme will really have to be priced really well to attract its loyalists again and if they do, Tata might just have a winner here. Keep watching this space for the complete launch details tomorrow.

Tata Safari Storme Technical Specifications:

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