Tata Safari: In a move that both pays tribute to the original Safari’s illustrious legacy while also catering to today’s expectations, Tata Motors has resurrected the OG Safari silhouette in India.
It’s a move that reignites their storied past in an era where nostalgia is king when it comes to automotive design, with manufacturers once again leaning into the appeal of a classic nameplate and the styling cues that come with it.
Table of Contents
Tata Safari: A Legacy Reborn
The redesigned classic Safari features the boxy, imposing shape that helped to make it a cultural phenomenon during its first-generation run.
The unique stance remains, with columns held high, hood lines, and safari-window that are really its own, a sight that was always in the rear-view for a generation of enthusiasts on Indian roads.
Tata’s engineering team has also added some contemporary elements while ensuring the original design remains intact.
The LED lighting signatures outline the familiar headlamp configuration and the iconic grille has been subtly evolutionized without compromising its hereditary symbolism.
The typical clamshell bonnet and squared wheel arches have been left well alone, ensuring the vehicle’s identity remains apparent.
Engineering Evolution
Under its nostalgic skin is thoroughly modern underpinning. The Safari’s new lease on life rides on an updated variant of Tata’s hydroformed ladder-frame chassis, which has been designed to meet today’s safety norms while still offering the rugged off-road capability the nameplate is known for.
Actually underpinned with Tata’s modern 2.0-liter Kryotec turbocharged diesel engine—the diamond in the rough has been immensely upgraded to crank out 170 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque, which brings in a massive leap over the outgoing model.
Gearbox choices comprise a 6-speed manual and a smooth-shifting 6-speed torque converter automatic, both channeling power via a selectable four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking differentials.
The suspension is an amalgamation of independent front suspension and a multi-link rear arrangement with coil springs that would be an impressive compromise between off-road articulation and on-road comforts—an area where the original was often called out.
Interior Transformation
It’s when you step inside that you see where tradition most gracefully marries innovation. The dashboard architecture that’s reminiscent of the original’s relatively simple, command-position layout but adds modern-day requirements.
10.25-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone integration, and the driver is greeted with a new configurable digital instrument cluster behind the cowl (a nod to tradition, one could argue).
It reinstates the signature stadium seating layout for all three rows of seats which are positioned higher than each other for better visibility, a trait that was distinctive to the original Safari, compared to modern rivals.
While still rugged and ready for its real-world application, the cabin ambiance does not suffer with the use of premium materials, including eco-friendly wood trim and perforated leather upholstery.
New-age contents like tri-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof offer expected creature comforts without sacrificing the temper that made the original Safari fad a classic.
Integrating Safety and Technology
Recognizing modern demands, Tata has loaded the refreshed Safari with all the possible safety systems.
All models get six airbags, as well as electronic stability control, hill descent control, rollover mitigation, and higher trims come with advanced driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning.
Connecting the two is iRA connected car technology, which allows for over-the-air updates, geofencing capabilities, remote vehicle control, and voice-activated commands—all of these thoroughly modern features wrapped in nostalgia-inducing packaging.
Heritage Edition Exclusivity
Capped at 1,998 units, which pays tribute to the year the first Safari launched, the Heritage Edition includes vintage finishes, such as the Hawaiian Turquoise that graced numerous original variants.
Interior appointments include specially embossed seats with the vehicle’s production number, and heritage badging around the cabin.
Every Heritage Edition comes with a welcome pack that includes a scale model of the original and new Safari, a commemorative book that details the vehicle’s influence on culture, and special owner benefits such as priority service scheduling and exclusive invitations to various off-road experience events.
Positioning in the Market & Market Strategy
By positioning the classic Safari alongside its modern counterpart, rather than scrapping it, the relaunch also acknowledges that the SUV segment is not a one-size-fits-all affair.
Whereas the current Safari is focused toward city buyers that want polished road behavior and modern looks, this heritage model is aimed at enthusiasts and off-roaders that want the genuine deal and some uniqueness.
Tata’s plan is to follow successful heritage makeovers elsewhere, where manufacturers have rediscovered the emotional attraction and pricing opportunity associated with reinterpreted classics.
This positioning is mirrored in the pricing strategy, with a ~15% premium over the modern Safari albeit with an immediately apparent difference in character and capability.
Tata Safari: Cultural Significance
More than just a resumé, it acknowledges that the Safari is more than a car, commercially or otherwise, in the Indian context.
During its original production run, the Safari grew to become more than just a mode of transportation, but a cultural touchstone—spotlit in Bollywood productions, motorcades of politicians, and photos from adventure tourism.
For generation now entering prime earning years, the Safari offered the aspirational mobility and exploratory possibility during their formative years.
This relaunch (West has a strong connection to the automotive world, after all) aims to capitalize on this potent bond — providing physical access to a nostalgic touchstone against the backdrop of modern safety and efficiency standards.
Bringing back a classic nameplate in its original form, Tata Motors retains an Indian automotive legacy while proving confidence in local design and engineering abilities.
