[RavenAvi]

The features of the upcoming Safari's Telematics - Connected Car tech are divided into 5 categories:-

Safety & Security,
Remote Commands,
Alerts & Notifications,
Over The Air updates, and
Health check.

Features in detail:-

Remote Lock/Unlock,
Remote Lights On/Off,
Remote immobilisation when car is stolen,
Unauthorised car access alert (Intrusion alert),
Alerts about critical car parameters (including battery-related alerts),
View trip details and provide Drive pattern analytics with Driver Score,
Valet Mode,
Nearest TML (Tata Motors Limited) service station/Roadside Assistance,
Geo fencing,
SOS SMS to emergency contact in case of accident,
View Car Health Dashboard,
Share location and get tracked live,
Tribes for socialising with other Tata car owners (gamification),
Custom messages (such as "Happy Birthday") on cluster,
Over The Air software updates (through the TCU - Telematics Control Unit),
Best/Most Efficient Users of the week/month (on Driver Score basis),
Remote Horn,
Navigation (Maps integration),
Android Auto/Apple CarPlay for smartphone integration with weather updates,
Find My Car,
Speed alerts,
Time fencing alert,
Idle alert,
Panic notification,
What 3 Words.

In addition, iRA, ConnectNext & What3Words have a validity period of 1 year. They can be downloaded for free from the App Store or the Play Store.

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by GTO

By the way, we will be driving the 2021 Safari next week .

That's great. Just a few things to check
1. The seating and long distance comfort of middle row for elderly.
2. Ease of ingress and egress of 2nd row for elderly.
3. What kind of seat belt is being offered to the middle passenger in 2nd row.
4. Ingress egress last row
5. Boot space with all seats up
6. Headlights and fog lights at night.
7. Any variant breakup?
8. And of course, the drive.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by turbo_delight

Seems that the 2nd row bench seat will be actually little higher than the current harrier. In that case, is the ride bouncy for 2nd row bench seats ?

Probably you are referring to the 'stadium seating' Pratap Bose mentioned in his interview. I think it is just a marketing talk.
According to him, in all other cars, people at the rear will end up seeing the headrests of the seats ahead. In Safari, second row is supposed to be higher than the first so that they can see past the headrests (and similarly the third row will be higher than the second row). Now, for the eye level of the second seat occupants to look above the headrests, the seats will have to be at least 6 inches higher. That almost requires the seating arrangements like in a Volvo (city) buses . Another aspect is, when you make the seats higher, even the floor needs to be raised. All this will require major changes to the roof too.

Another thing I am curious about is his statement about all the 3 rows to be fully usable by people who fall in to 95th percentile of the (Europian) population in height (read as six footers). That is something even 5 meter SUVs like GLS or XC90 haven't been able to achieve.

[07CR]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

The features of the upcoming Safari's Telematics - Connected Car tech are divided into 5 categories:-

Safety & Security,
Remote Commands,
Alerts & Notifications,
Over The Air updates, and
Health check.

Are they missing out on an important and a flashy party trick of remote starting the car and operating the AC? Or is it already the part of automatic Harrier, and therefore not mentioned?

[ManneAtWheelz]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

Could be the another colour of Safari apart from the Blue one

Attachment 2109757

Not so enticing in this avatar IMHO, if at all this is true. The car in blue color anyways striking chords

[turbo_delight]

Originally Posted by BoneCollector

That's great. Just a few things to check
1. The seating and long distance comfort of middle row for elderly.
2. Ease of ingress and egress of 2nd row for elderly.
3. What kind of seat belt is being offered to the middle passenger in 2nd row.
4. Ingress egress last row
5. Boot space with all seats up
6. Headlights and fog lights at night.
7. Any variant breakup?
8. And of course, the drive.

I want to add the tuning check for Safari to accommodate the additional seats weight +overhang weight + 2 people's weight.

So, roughly with all people seated, the extra weight as compared to Harrier would be around 2×10 kgs for seats + overhang weight of 100 kgs + 2 people × 60 kg weight of individuals.

So, fully seated, the extra weight would be easily around 250 kgs as compared to Harrier. So, an important thing to check would be how it performs with all 7 people.

Even without all 7 seated, it'll be heavier by around 120 kgs.

This test would ensure that this vehicle is just not additional 2 seats, and those 2 extra seats don't compromise the driving experience as compared to Harrier.

[ebonho]

My humble suggestion to editorial test team is to compare the car (truck?) to the outgoing Storme and not the Harrier.

Or compare it to the Harrier if you must but do compare it to the Dicor/Storme.

Because that is where the legend resides.

Cheers, Doc

[vigneshkumar31]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Because that is where the legend resides.

Cheers, Doc

Doc, from one Stormer to another...

do I smell a hint of a possible upgrade to the new Safari?

[dadu]

Originally Posted by ebonho

My humble suggestion to editorial test team is to compare the car (truck?) to the outgoing Storme and not the Harrier.

Or compare it to the Harrier if you must but do compare it to the Dicor/Storme.

Because that is where the legend resides.

Cheers, Doc

Well, you can't compare to the original safari since that is a "Legend" (not
comparable )

On a saner note, the platforms have changed now with Harrier and the old safari was a lot of retro-fitments to keep it up with the changing time (or generations).

Since the "Gravitas" is a new generation platform. We should compare it to the likes of Compass and MG etc.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by vigneshkumar31

Doc, from one Stormer to another...

do I smell a hint of a possible upgrade to the new Safari?

I've been looking at a new car since last year. Actually a bit before that. After looking at all the 6/7 seater options (I have a grown family of 5, so any 5 seater is out) I had actually toyed with the idea of another Storme (call me mad, or simply a Safari owner), the newer Varicor 400. But no AT. I need the stick in my hand, in more ways than one!

I rarely come on the car threads here last few years, mainly keeping to the Cycle thread, and off late some time pas on the motorcycle section. So like a hibernating bear coming out of his cave after a brutal winter I discovered a year late that the Storme and the Dicor had been killed by Tata Motors.

So now what to do? The Isuzu briefly tickled some part of my brain, but I never really warmed up to the idea.

Tell me honestly. Is there a truck out there (regardless of price) that will satisfy a guy who has been driving a Safari or a Storme for 8+ years? In terms of looks and road presence and inner space and comfort and FEEL?

The simple answer I came to the conclusion and made peace with, like someone else here (you?) said many posts ago so brilliantly, is that while Tata Motors will continue providing the parts and spares, I will keep my Storme (Beastie) and enjoy her as I have been doing since 2013.

After all, I'm still keeping my 2005 Baleno and she is purring like a kitten. So why not the Storme?

Originally Posted by dadu

Well, you can't compare to the original safari since that is a "Legend" (not
comparable )

On a saner note, the platforms have changed now with Harrier and the old safari was a lot of retro-fitments to keep it up with the changing time (or generations).

Since the "Gravitas" is a new generation platform. We should compare it to the likes of Compass and MG etc.

Yes, but in addition to the above, I must add that the LEGEND of Safari is OUR birth-right. Those of us who have actually put our money where our mouths are. And run these beasts on our roads. Without us, there would be no LEGEND.

So definitely there will be many thousands of Safari old timers who will be grumbling at the shape and various other things here and elsewhere, but the moment the car (truck?) rolls on to our roads as a SAFARI, it belongs to us. So yes, we are very invested in this car and this thread. Regardless of whether we bring one home or keep their daddies and grand daddies in our garages running.

Cheers, Doc

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Tell me honestly. Is there a truck out there (regardless of price) that will satisfy a guy who has been driving a Safari or a Storme for 8+ years? In terms of looks and road presence and inner space and comfort and FEEL?

Is the Fortuner 4x4 MT not worth your money in that case? I was thinking of the Endeavour but it is unfortunately not available in MT. All of your criteria gets fulfilled by the Fortuner I suppose, unless I am missing something.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by sunilch

Is the Fortuner 4x4 MT not worth your money in that case? I was thinking of the Endeavour but it is unfortunately not available in MT. All of your criteria gets fulfilled by the Fortuner I suppose, unless I am missing something.

Both were in the final consideration set along with the Isuzu and (shudder, cringe) the more powerful Crysta variant.

But I've sat in both. My close buddy owns the new Endeavour.

Lets face it. Safari guys are farmers.

We need that roll and shake and shudder.

We need that apartment on wheels open air feel.

We need those multitude of sounds and tactile experience that driving a Safari is.

We need that height and view.

We need that feeling of the armrest throne on TOP of the post apocalyptic Mad Maxian Battlecat rig.

Hope that's a small glimpse of what we NEED!

The "old" Pajero (silver and red one) and NOT the Pajero Sport, comes very close to a non Safari upgrade for a Safari owner in my humble opinion. IF it were available for sale.

Cheers, Doc

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Both were in the final consideration set along with the Isuzu and (shudder, cringe) the more powerful Crysta variant.

But I've sat in both. My close buddy owns the new Endeavour.

Lets face it. Safari guys are farmers.

We need that roll and shake and shudder.

We need that apartment on wheels open air feel.

We need those multitude of sounds and tactile experience that driving a Safari is.

We need that height and view.

We need that feeling of the armrest throne on TOP of the post apocalyptic Mad Maxian Battlecat rig.

Hope that's a small glimpse of what we NEED!

Cheers, Doc

Hehe, then you should say you are looking for the best road worthy 'Tractor' as opposed to a 'Truck'

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by sunilch

Hehe, then you should say you are looking for the best road worth 'Tractor' as opposed to a 'Truck'

Yes I have been saying exactly that.

And the fact that I own one makes me treasure her more and drive her with suddenly greater respect.

Cheers, Doc

[4x4addict]

Seeing a lot of people justifying Tata's decision not to have a 4x4/AWD version. If Mahindra went by the same logic as these people, there would be no pre-2020 Thar CRDe or new 2020 Thar CRDe. And if you see the bookings for the Thar, it is a roaring success for an impractical, not so comfortable life style 3 Door vehicle.

Regarding lack of AWD availability in the current Gen Scorpio and Current Gen XUV500, I can tell you that it is because these models are at the end of their life and will get phased out and it probably didn't make sense to offer these in the BS-6 version which are pretty much stop gap models. I can assure you that the 2020/2021 version of these models will have optional 4x4/AWD.

There is a huge void in this space for a large 4WD/AWD Tourer south of the astronomically priced Endeavour’s, Fortuner's and the Chinese one. Anyways, Tata's have left this pie to Mahindra with their graciousness. I appreciate Tata for looking after a brother Indian concern.

As I said in one of my earlier posts, the next Gen Scorpio will be worth the wait for people who want AWD/4x4 along with AT. The point I am making is that this Harrier/Gravitas space is highly, highly competitive. Much more than when the Harrier/Gravitas was initially envisioned. Now you have the other Indian, Korean and Chinese manufacturers all fighting for the same pie. And the so called 5 percent market share that some here are saying Tata doesn't need will be well worth it.