It had to happen sooner or later and in the case of Tata Motors, it has taken a bit more time than anticipated. Yes, I?m talking about the common-rail direct injection diesel engine. Mercedes-Benz brought it to India first but the asking price was pretty much kept beyond the reach of the Average Joe (Jai). Then Hyundai decided to get into the act and show it could be applied to more mass market cars and that it was not the privilege of the elite. Surprisingly, Mahindra & Mahindra too, came out with their version using this technology, in collaboration with Bosch. Now, at long last, one may add, Tata Motors has come up with an indigenously developed common-rail direct injection diesel unit. Not only that, they have also used the occasion to facelift one of the company?s very old war-horses ? the Tata Safari.

The new Safari is known as the Safari DICOR which stands for Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) Engine. This is a 3-litre diesel engine that as installed on the Safari DICOR delivers 115PS at 3000rpm. To some, this may not seem like much but what is exceptional about this engine is that it develops 300Nm of torque starting from as low as 1600-2000rpm.

This should give the Safari good lugging capability, especially for those times a Safari with an entire family packed in has to take on a steep ghat or hill road. The engine has a 32-bit microprocessor that continuously monitors and controls pressure at the time of fuel injection into the engine, so that the engine is always operating at the optimum. Naturally, this also aids fuel efficiency in less taxing situations.

The old Safari was getting rather long in the tooth and although it presented a radical shift in terms of looks when it was initially launched, today it has become very dated. This has been more emphasised with the launch of a raft of new SUVs both in the same price range as well as in the higher categories. The most important changes have taken place in the front end ? the Safari DICOR sports a chrome plated front grill, and a revised bumper with integrated fog lamps. The look is accentuated with clear-lens lights that the company likes to term crystal-clear. The rear treatment is a little disappointing though ? almost as if the designer penned it in as an afterthought. The Safari DICOR rides on 16-inch alloy wheel rims and these give it a distinctive look. It?s the interior that?s received a whole lot of attention, which is a good thing considering the owner and passengers will spend more time inside the car than out of it. There is an aesthetically designed centre console, a new instrument panel, and very importantly, a customised driver?s seat with height adjustment and lumbar support. It also has a reverse guide system that facilitates rear visibility while reversing the vehicle. That?s the practical side. For increasing the feel-good factor, the car has leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a stylish gear lever knob.

Along with that there?s a whole host of goodies ? like a Blaupunkt DVD/MP3 player with dual LCD screens as well as a mobile/laptop port for rear passengers to conduct business while on the move. Also, perhaps for the first time in an Indian-designed and built car, the doors have ?puddle lamps? that light up the ground beneath the doors at night so one can see where one is stepping. Safety is key and the Safari DICOR also comes equipped with some notable safety features ? like anti-submarining seats, ABS brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and a three-stage collapsible steering column. Both the front passenger and the driver get airbags to protect them in the case of an accident. The Safari DICOR will complement the existing SUV range, which currently comprises the 135 PS Petrol version and the 90 PS TCIC Diesel variants, which will be available with the face-lifted styling. It will also be available in three trim levels and in four by four as well as in two-wheel-drive versions. The Safari DICOR will be on offer in 131 dealerships and comes in seven different colours ? Light Gold, Arizona Blue, Quartz Black, Arctic Silver, Passion Red, Arctic White and River Rock Green. As is the standard in the country presently, the Safari DICOR conforms to Bharat Stage III norms.

This newest entry from the Tata stable is priced between Rs.7.83 lakh and Rs 12.70 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. This price band is very interesting as it straddles two segments, upper C and lower D. What?s more, an 18-month, unlimited mileage warranty is offered along with the car as well. Tata has always managed to take on the international big boys, often leaving them with bruised noses. One can only wait and watch how the market responds to the new car, to find out whether the Safari DICOR manages to do the same.

Easy listening

Daler Mehndi,
singer

This may sound slightly narcissistic, but the music I like listening to the most while driving is my own. So many people have told me that there’s a lot of energy in my music and I think that’s necessary when driving. So, mostly I end up listening to my songs like Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra, Tunak Tunak Tun and Dardi Rab Rab Kardi. Sometimes, I listen to FM — and though the RJs’ constant chatter gets on my nerves, at times they play old Hindi film numbers that I love, especially from Kishore Kumar and Dev Anand films.

I love driving most of the time, which is when I need a lot of peppy numbers to keep myself alert. But if I’m being driven somewhere, I like listening to ghazals by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Also when I’m in the mood for classical music, I listen to Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Jasraj’s renditions of ragas.