[blackwasp]

Thanks to Vimal Rawat for sending these images in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this page!

Back in 2017, Tata Motors signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence to supply 3,192 units of the Safari Storme 4x4 SUV to the Indian Armed Forces. Now, spy images indicate that deliveries for the same have commenced. The Army-spec Safari was seen being unloaded at a Tata yard in New Delhi. The Army-CVD (Central Vehicles Depot) is also located at Delhi.

The new images reveal some more details. The Safari gets a beige and black interior, individual reading lamps for the front and middle rows, along with a manual Subros air conditioning unit, ABS 9.1 and dual airbags. On the outside, changes include a matte green paint job exclusive for the Army, heavy duty rear tow hook, provision to attach jerry cans on the rear left side, as well as front and rear black-out lamps. Further, all the chrome bits have been either blackened out or painted in the same shade as the exterior colour.

The Army-spec Safari Storme is powered by the familiar 2.2-liter Varicor engine. In the standard car, it puts out 154 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque @ 1,750-2,500 rpm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox and a 4x4 low range box as standard.

The Safari was selected after undergoing a 15-month trial period. It comes under a new category of General Service 800 (GS800), which had three major requirements including an 800 kg payload, hard roof and air conditioning. Apart from this, the vehicle must also be equipped with 4x4 and be suitably modified as per other defence requirements. The Safari is touted to be the replacement for the Maruti Gypsy (GS500), which has been in service in the Army since 1991. All we can say is, our armed forces will enjoy the Safari Storme's awesome ride quality & space!

















Link to the Team-BHP News

[avinash_m]

Guys,

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the gear lever knob is actually that of a 5 speed Storme (Varicor?). The one on the Varicor 400 is actually a silver finished one and looks quite different (el cheapo actually IMO).

Agreed that they could've just used the one from Hexa (looks similar) but I thought I'd read somewhere on the forum that these knobs are quite car specific and have some inbuilt weights which help control the NVH characteristics of Storme. Zooming in one of the above pics too seems to have only '3' straight H pattern, the extra one (for R) as on the V400 isn't visible!? Please correct if I am wrong.

Sorry for a bit longish post, just wanted to share my observation with explanation.

[Prateek19]

Originally Posted by avinash_m

Guys,



Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the gear lever knob is actually that of a 5 speed Storme (Varicor?). The one on the Varicor 400 is actually a silver finished one and looks quite different (el cheapo actually

You have noticed it right. As per my knowledge, GS 800 has 5 speed forward gearbox.

[avinash_m]

Originally Posted by Prateek19

You have noticed it right. As per my knowledge, GS 800 has 5 speed forward gearbox.

So it's the older Varicor engine/tranny combo which has been offered by the TATAs to the army; wonder how/why the news got misinterpreted!?

Request mods to have this confirmed someway (if possible) and revise the thread likewise. I caught this news on some other websites as well and they're quoting team-bhp there.

[TusharK]

Tata Motors has unveiled a 3-door, soft-top version of the Safari Storme GS800 for the Indian Army. The car was showcased at the recently concluded Defence Expo in Chennai.



The new car comes with an air-conditioned cabin and can seat five people. It has a payload capacity of 825 kg and comes equipped with recovery hooks, a jerry can and mobile charging points.

The vehicle on display was equipped with a Mobile Emergency Communication System (MECS) which includes an antenna and a mast. It enables one-way or two-way communication in case of an emergency. The system can also be converted into an LTE base station within 15 minutes by plugging in a 'Network in a Box' (NIB).



Under the hood is a 2.2-litre, turbocharged diesel engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The SUV gets all-wheel drive as standard. The Safari Storme GS800 is also available in a 5-door, hard-top body style.

In 2017, Tata Motors signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence to supply 3,192 units of the Safari Storme 4x4 SUV to the Indian Army.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

[Dry Ice]

Err, but why? Don't they already have the Xenon? Why did they have to reverse engineer this thing.

Not able to understand the offering. Where exactly did this pass, and Xenon failed?

[indivic]

May be the Xenon chassis doesn't meet the GSQR requirements

[condor]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Err, but why? Don't they already have the Xenon? Why did they have to reverse engineer this thing.

Not able to understand the offering. Where exactly did this pass, and Xenon failed?

The Storme is approved - hence reverse engineering this was logical & easier

[Parm]

Here is the video of the New Models of Indian Army walking the post production ramp!

Tata Safari in olive green walking the ramp. I am sure our beloved Bawa Ji had a Major hand in winning the IA bid for TATA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZqrDJ60uEc

[Thilak29]

Can someone educate me what are those protruding cylinders (2 each on Right/Left side) on rear bumpers?

[revved_up]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

Can someone educate me what are those protruding cylinders (2 each on Right/Left side) on rear bumpers?

Those are blackout lights.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_light

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

Can someone educate me what are those protruding cylinders (2 each on Right/Left side) on rear bumpers?

I think those are blackout lights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_light).

I am sure better informed members will correct me if I am wrong.

Cheers,
Vikram

[Rigid Rotor]

Those blackout and stop lights appear to be poorly integrated:
- The blackout lamps (on either side) should have been recessed instead of being installed on the bumper and being prone to damage.
- The convoy stop lamp (illuminating the cross in the centre) has an after-market look with its exposed cable. Even the cross is clearly marked unevenly.

[SnakemanJohny]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Tata Motors has unveiled a 3-door, soft-top version of the Safari Storme GS800 for the Indian Army. The car was showcased at the recently concluded Defence Expo in Chennai.

THIS IS IT -- the perfect successor to the Gypsy, Jonga, Mahindra MM550 etc, great grandchild of the Willys GP (General Purpose).

As I said before (and some others did, too), the Safari Storme hard top can at best be a senior officers' vehicle, or a special purpose vehicle in extreme climates, but for general use the forces need an open (soft top) light 4WD with towing and other properties. In 2WD mode this can serve some para-military forces (like the CRPF, CISF etc.) in urban and suburban areas.

Similar pickup types, mostly from Toyota, are in use all over the world, particularly in Asian countries ( Pakistan, Afghanistan) as troop carriers by military, para-military, and police forces.

[volkman10]

Tata Safari Storme, on delivery mode!

Brand new mil-spec Safari Stormes on a car transporter on their way to induction into the service

Link