Tata Motors is working on a fresh petrol powertrain for its premium SUVs, Harrier and Safari, according to a senior company executive.
These models currently feature a two-liter diesel engine but are set to get a new 1.5L Turbo GDI petrol engine.
Prioritizing Diesel Engines
Shailesh Chandra, the Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, emphasized the company’s focus on diesel engines.
He explained that around 80% of the annual market of approximately two lakh units in the SUV segment leans towards diesel powertrains due to their superior torque performance.
Upcoming 1.5-Liter Petrol Engine
While diesel engines have been the initial focus, Tata Motors is also actively developing a 1.5-liter GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine.
However, the release date for this petrol engine is still in progress.
New Harrier and Safari Models
The recently launched facelifted versions of the Harrier and Safari are equipped with 2.0-liter diesel engines.
The transition to the new petrol engine will take time, and there’s also a need to integrate it properly into the product.
Safety and Ratings
Tata Motors introduced the updated Harrier and Safari models with starting prices of Rs 15.49 lakh and Rs 16.19 lakh, respectively. These vehicles have earned top safety ratings from Global NCAP.
A Move Towards Petrol
Given the strong sales of midsize SUVs with petrol variants, like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos,
and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Tata is compelled to introduce petrol variants of the Harrier and Safari as soon as possible.
