Tata Safari Storme First Impressions

When the year 2011 started to set down, a new wave of SUVs started to rise up very strongly. It all started from BMW X1, X3, Mahindra XUV 500, Force One etc. Suddenly the wise Indian customer gets spoiled for choice in big muscle machines. The good point is the price range they all are offered in, It starts from as low as 6-7 lakhs and there is no definite higher side end to it. This has caused every single car manufacturer to ride these waves. As result of that Tata brought Safari Storme – the new generation Safari.

The new Safari Storme gets overall makeover from inside to outside and mechanicals also sees improvements. Changes in exterior includes new grill having large horizontal chrome strip on top of it. Chrome strip runs smoothly between new projector headlamps. Rear end gets somewhat flattened which is similar to iconic Land Rover range. Unlike the previous version, for the first time Safari gets spare tyre under its body. Then there are trapezoidal chrome tipped twin exhaust which adds few more bits of good looks. Also electrically operated ORVMs which open up automatically on unlocking your vehicle is welcome feature. So over all Safari seems to be growing mature and sophisticated and is coming out of the wild and hunk character.

Interiors also hint towards sophistication and up-market persona. Mix and match of beige leather, chrome and wooden inserts dresses up the cabin very well. Luxurious beige seats matched with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, chrome highlighted gear knob, wood-accented dashboard and door trims, a new instrument cluster, chrome-lined speaker grills and inside door handles is makes their way into Storme. The AC vents for the second row helps to cool the entire cabin evenly and quickly.

Mechanicals of new Safari Storme are also improved except the engine which has specifications as 2.2L 16-valve common rail (DiCOR), (140 PS power; 320 Nm torque) with a variable geometry turbo, mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. Most awaited feature which has made its way here in is 4WD electronic shift on fly. The suspension is said to be improved and body roll is minimized for providing comfort during long runs.

The Tata Safari Storme comes with host of safety features. The rigid ladder frame construction with hydro-formed long members has improved the structural strength of the vehicle. Crumple zone absorbs the impact of frontal collision and keeps the passenger cabin safe. Side intrusion beams on all four doors protects passengers from a side impact and the collapsible steering column reduces the severity of the impact transmitted to the cabin, especially to the driver. Dual SRS Airbags, will keep customers safe in the unfortunate event of a head-on collision.

The new Tata Safari Storme comes with disc brakes on all four wheels and has 4 channel ABS with EBD, which helps in keeping the vehicle under control, during emergency braking conditions. In addition, the vehicle has been designed with advanced safety features like the Inertia Switch and an auto engine immobiliser. In an event of a crash, the Inertia Switch automatically cuts off the fuel supply to the engine and unlocks all the doors and also switches on the hazard warning light to warn other road users. All in all, the new-generation Tata Safari Storme makes a bold statement with its refined exteriors.