Re: The Tata Gravitas (H7X) SUV. EDIT: Branded as the Safari! Tata is looking for market response to launch the AWD variant, or so they say.
If the twiterrati, instagram comments, and this forum itself is any indicator of the market, then they have their answer.
I know most of these are keyboard warriors and not necessarily prospective customers, but the sheer response in the affirmative should be a strong indicator for TATA to plonk the hardware in their flagship.
Safari claiming LR pedigree without 4x4, is like MG claiming British heritage on a Baojun Wuling.
The market has changed from the times of the previous Safari Storme 4x4. The Storme and the Safari dicor were niche offerings targeted at a select group of discerning buyers. Everybody liked the Safari. But you really had to love it to bring one home. And the few who did (myself included) never regret it and would do it all over again.
The positioning of the Safari and then the Storme was also quite aspirational for their times, in the sense it offered oodles of character and elegance and not much else, compared to similar priced XUV 5OO, which looked like a car from the future and the laundry list of gizmos it offered. People chose what they wanted and voted with their wallets. The Safari's relatively lower sales, meant there were fewer on the roads and thus cementing its exclusivity and reinstating the enigmatic legend it was. Again, you really had to love the Safari to bring one home and live with it. The Tata badge and the baggage that brought with it, meant you had to really love it.
Tata today has built ( or rather building) a different perception amongst the Indian car buyer. The taxi image is wiped off, their 'design led brand renovation' is killing it and they have one winner in every segment they play in. Look at the Tiago, Altroz, Nexon, Harrier and now Safari. In all these pages of discussion not one of us have said - " Wow! a Tata for 20 lakhs?!"
Tata has finally earned their right to play with the big boys.
Today, the Safari'21 ticks most of the boxes that turned away the erstwhile non-buyer. It's fresh, looks great and loaded with kit and crowd pleasers have been ensured - Panoramic sunroof and the likes. But it has lesser boxes to tick for the erstwhile buyer who once chose Safari for its unique strengths. A rugged abuse friendly SUV, never afraid to get its hands dirty, which still managed to look 'white collar'.The Safari still claims to retain its characteristic space and ride in the latest avatar which we will know soon.
I dare say the purchasing power of the market today is also starkly improved, evident from the sales charts of over priced CSUVs flying off the shelves. The number of people that are willing to pay for 'lifestyle quotient' in a vehicle is remarkably improved from what it was a decade ago.
The market has a gap and is ripe for a 7 seater AWD. Many of us are unable to progress to this elusive category as the cheapest option starts from the premium D2 segment only which is well north of 30 lakhs.
Cars are known by their apex variants, regardless of how much of the sales come from that variant. The Safari AWD would be an instant differentiator and justify the name it bears and the pedigree it claims. It actually has the potential to become a great one car do all.
If TML is reading this and we know they are, I suggest they actually come up with something novel and open an ''expression of interest'' kind of booking for the top end 4x4 as an option and see the response for themselves.
Just waiting on the sidelines and checking if XUV 5OO AT AWD sells or not, won't cut it.
Omegarc D8 is oh so capable!. Land Rover pedigree!. We are tired of hearing what the architecture can be possibly used for. Now can we please have the hardware it deserves?
Okay we believe you Tata, that you did all that sleight of hand, veil of mystery Buzzard and Gravitas so that we would be distracted and not wait for this Safari. We promise we won't make you any more uncomfortable by asking that question again.Now can we have the 4x4?
Last edited by vigneshkumar31 : 17th January 2021 at 16:04.
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