Tata Motors has launched its flagship Safari 7-seat SUV on the 22nd February 2021. The new Safari ranges from Rs.14.69l to Rs.21.25l (ex showroom).

The new Safari will be available in 6 variants in total.

The Variants include:

XE, XM, XT, XT+, XZ, XZ+

The new gen Safari is essentially the 7 seat extended version of the Harrier 5 seat SUV based on the Land Rover derived OMEGA arc platform. Earlier this SUV was named the Buzzard at the Geneva auto expo, which was then changed to Gravitas for the Delhi auto expo last year. Now, Tata motors has finalized that it will be

the successor to legendary and iconic Safari SUV.

Based on the Harrier, the Safari is around 60mm longer than the Harrier to accommodate the extra 2 seats while also being taller to provide better headroom for the 3rd row. Except for the larger dimensions and extra seats, the Safari is largely similar to the 5-seat Harrier. However, the front grille gets a slightly different treatment, featuring the signature Tri-arrow pattern finished in Chrome.

The tailgate is more upright, giving the Safari a more boxy appearance and the SUV also features long functional roof rails for lifestyle utility. The top spec variants receive 18” dual tone alloy wheels with the design similar to the Harrier's whereas the lower spec variants carry forward the exact same 16” Steel wheels seen on the Harrier’s lower variants. The higher variants are also offered with a Panoramic sunroof.

The new Safari is available  with 7 seats as standard while only the XZ and XZ+ will be optional with a 6 seat configuration.

Here’s a detailed walkthrough on the features available on the different Variants:

XE: Rs.14.69L

• Projector headlamps

• Functional roof rails (75kg load bearing)

• Halogen bi-functional DRLs

• Central locking

• All-black interior

• Telescopic steering wheel

• Front center armrest with cooled storage

• Power windows

• Manual Air-con

• Rear AC vents

• Digital MID

• 60:40 split 2nd row seats

• Boss mode 2nd row

• 50:50 split 3rd row

• 16” Steel rims

Standard safety features include:

• Dual airbags

• Pretensioner seatbelts

• All wheel disc brakes

• ABS with EBD

• Corner stability control

• ESP with traction control

• Hill hold control

• Roll over mitigation

• Hydraulic brake assist

• Electronic brake prefill

• Brake disc wiping

• Engine drag torque control

• ISOFIX child seat mounts

• Reverse sensors

• Engine immobilizer

• Perimetric alarm

XM: Rs.16L (XMA : Rs.17.25L)

• Front fog lamps

• Rear wiper/washer and defogger

• Electrically adjustable ORVMs

• Driver seat height adjust

• 7” touchscreen system

• Reverse assist display

• 6 speakers from Harman

• Steering mounted audio controls

• Rear armrest

• Remote central locking

• Multi drive modes : City, Eco and Sport

XT: Rs.17.45L

• 18” single tone alloys

• Soft touch dash top

• Dual tone interior

• Reverse camera

• Android Auto & Apple carplay

• IRA connect features

• What 3 words

• Smart key access

• Push button start

• Power folding ORVMs

• Cruise control

• Auto climate control

• Auto Headlamps & wipers

• Mood lighting

• Auto dimming IRVM

• Tyre pressure monitoring system

XT+: Rs.18.25L

• Panoramic sunroof

XZ: Rs.19.15L (XZA : Rs.20.40L)

• Dual tone machined 18” alloys

• Xenon projector headlamps

• Oyster white Leather upholstery

• Leather wrap steering and gear lever

• 7” semi digital instrument cluster

• 8.8” touchscreen system

• 9 speakers from JBL with subwoofer

• 6 way Powered driver seat

• Driver lumbar adjust

• Terrain response modes (Wet and rough modes)

Additional safety features include:

• 6 Airbags

• Hill descent control

XZ+: Rs.19.99L (XZA+ : Rs.21.25L)

• Panoramic sunroof

As a surprise, Tata motors has also launched the ADVENTURE PERSONA special edition of the Safari which sports a few significant cosmetic changes. This special edition features a new Tropical Mist body colour along with piano Black replacing the Chrome inside and out. The Grille, window line and door handles are finished in piano Black while the R18 alloy wheels are finished in charcoal grey. The interior too gets a different treatment, with an all black dashboard featuring a lot more piano Black and the oyster white upholstery replaced by Earthy brown(beige) on the seats and door pads.

This special Adventure Persona edition is priced at Rs.20.20L for the manual and Rs.21.45L for the Automatic.

Powertrain:

       The Safari, just like the Harrier is available with a diesel engine mated to a 6 speed manual transmission as standard. A 6 speed torque converter automatic transmission is available only on the XMA, XZA and XZA+ variants. The 2L Kryotec turbo diesel produces 170PS Power and 350NM torque. From the XM variant onwards, the Safari is available with three drive modes; Eco, City and Sport. The XZ and XZ+ variants also get Terrain response modes which includes a Wet mode and Rough road mode as well.

Rivals:

 Tata’s new flagship SUV will compete against the likes of the MG Hector plus and the next generation Mahindra XUV500.

Toyota India is preparing to launch the facelifted Toyota Fortuner on the 6th of January, 2021. Apart from launching the facelifted version of the existing Fortuner, Toyota is also bringing the Legender version of the SUV as well. The Legender is essentially a highly upgraded flagship Variant of the Fortuner SUV, previously launched in Thailand and Australia. Bookings have commenced unofficially for the new facelifted SUV at select dealerships for an advance of Rs 50,000.

Toyota India has now released teasers of the new Fortuner facelift also revealing a few details as well.

Exterior:

The majority of the upgrades will occur at the

front end of the Fortuner. While the facelift of the existing model will feature a new grille, LED headlights with LED DRLs, redesigned fog lights and a new silver skid plate, the highest-spec Legender variant will feature a sharper front design with Bi-projector LED Headlamps with LED DRLs. Other changes will include redesigned 18” alloy wheels and re-profiled LED taillights. The Legender will feature unique design 18" alloy wheels.

Interior:

The new Fortuner launched in Thailand features an all-black interior with a new instrument cluster and a larger, 9” touchscreen infotainment system. The Fortuner Legender edition also offers a powered tailgate with the swipe-to-open function, wireless charging and a 360-degree parking camera. Similar to the facelifted Innova Crysta, the new Fortuner will also include Android auto and Apple carplay finally. 

Powertrains:

The first powertrain for the facelifted Fortuner will be the 2.7L petrol engine which produces 166 PS and 245 Nm through either a 6 speed manual or automatic gearbox. The highest spec Fortuner Legender will get a new 2.8L turbo diesel engine which produces 204 PS and 500 Nm. While all the models will be 2WD as standard, only the diesel will get a 4WD option.

Price:

The current BS6 Toyota Fortuner is available from Rs 28.66 lakh to Rs 36.88 lakh (ex-showroom).

The price of the upgraded models will be available on the launch date, 6th January 2021.

Stay tuned for further updates on the new Fortuner.

The Nissan Magnite Compact SUV Bookings Open, production version was revealed a couple weeks ago and now the price has been revealed on online before it's official launch . This new compact SUV is going to be the Make-it or Break-it product for Nissan India. Now we have got the details of the variants and features split up of the new compact SUV. Here are some clear details on what to expect:

Variants:

The Magnite will be sold in four variants, namely the XE, XL, XV, and the XV premium. All variants except for the entry-level XE can be ordered with either the

1.0L non-turbo or the turbo petrol engine. Let's take a look at the features on offer:

XE variant:

• 16” wheels

• Dual-tone interior

• Dual-tone bumpers

• Roof rails

• All power windows

• 3.5” LCD display

• Dual airbags

• ABS with EBD

• Reverse sensors

• Central locking

• Pretensioner seatbelts

XL variant:

• Electric ORVMs with auto fold

• Auto climate control

• 6 speaker audio system

• Steering mounted audio controls

XV (High):

• 16” Dual tone alloy wheels

• LED DRLs

• LED fog lamps

• 8” touchscreen

• Wireless Android auto & apple car play

• 7” TFT color instrument cluster

• Voice commands

• Reverse camera

• Smart key access

• Push-button start

• 60:40 split-folding rear seat

XV (Premium):

• LED bi-projector headlamps

• Cruise control

• 360 degree surround View camera

• Tire pressure monitoring

• All black interior

XV (Premium) optional:

• Dual-tone roof

Technology pack

The Nissan Magnite will also be available with an optional Technology Pack on the XV and XV Premium variants. Features on this package include:

• Wireless smartphone charging

• Air purifier

• Ambient mood lighting

• Puddle lamps

• JBL speakers

Exterior

The production-spec Nissan Magnite seems to retain most of the concept’s design elements including the large grille, the Sharp creases and the funky alloy wheels. It has even the same sculpted bonnet and angular headlights. Since the Magnite was originally meant to be launched as a Datsun, the grille bears resemblance to the other Datsun models.

The side profile looks muscular with prominent body cladding and large wheel arches which seem to dwarf the 16” wheels. The higher-spec variants also receive a dual-tone roof option, blacked-out pillars, and silver roof rails. At the back, the Magnite sports sharp-looking tail lamps resemble those on the Triber's, a clean tail gate, and a dual-tone bumper. The Magnite is also set to be the first model in India to sport the new Nissan logo.

Interior

The interior too is quite close to the concept with a large, centrally-mounted 8” touchscreen and layered dashboard with hexagonal AC vents.

Powertrain

The Nissan Magnite will be available with two engine options. The first will be the 1.0L Energy series, 3 cylinder Naturally aspirated engine from the Renault Triber, producing 72PS Power through a 5 speed manual gearbox. The second powertrain will be a new HRA0 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol unit producing around 100PS (97bhp) of power and 160Nm of torque which will be mated to a 5 speed manual transmission option as well as an X-TRONIC CVT automatic gearbox. 

The new HRA0 1.0 3 cylinder turbocharged engine will get mirror bore cylinder coating technology from its legendary sport's car Nissan GT-R which will help to reduce the resistance inside the powertrain and also it will increase the overall efficiency of the engine.

The XE variant will be available only with the 1.0L naturally aspirated engine.

Pricing and launch:

The new Nissan Magnite will be launched with pricing by early December 2020. 

All-new Nissan Magnite Compact SUV Expected Price will start from 5.5 lakh and the top-spec Turbo Petrol CVT variant will go up to 9.55 Lakh.

All-new Nissan Magnite Variant wise price details (ex-showroom)

• 1.0L Petrol XE - Rs 5,50,000
• 1.0L Petrol XL - Rs 6,25,000
• 1.0L Petrol XV - Rs 6,75,000
• 1.0L XV Premium - Rs 7,65,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XL - Rs 7,25,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV - Rs 7,75,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV Premium - Rs 8,65,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XL CVT Rs 8,15,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV CVT Rs 8,65,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV Premium CVT RS 9,55,000

 

When launched, the Magnite will go against the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Ford Ecosport, Mahindra XUV300, and the Honda WRV as well. 

 

Stay tuned for further updates on the Nissan Magnite.