2021 Tata Safari Connected Car Features Leaked

The Tata Safari will get remote commands and safety features as part of its connected car tech, but not as advanced as the Kia Seltos and MG Hector. 

• It will get features such as remote commands, intrusion alert, geo-fencing, and much more. 

• You can unlock your car, turn on/off the lights, or use the horn remotely through your phone. 

• The validity of these features is up to 1 year from the date of purchase. After that, you will have to renew it. 

• Unofficial bookings for the Safari have commenced ahead of its launch on January 26. 

Tata has officially revealed the images of the Safari, which will be launched on January 26. Its unofficial pre-bookings have already started at select dealerships for a token amount of Rs 51,000. It will borrow the engine, transmission options, and most of its features from the Harrier. 

While the Safari is not the first Tata car to get connected car technology, it’s certainly more advanced. The connected car features have been leaked ahead of its launch. It will be primarily classified into five categories -- safety and security, remote commands, alerts and notifications, over-the-air updates, and health check. 

The features are further divided into: 

• Remote Lock/Unlock

• Remote Lights On/Off

• Remote immobilisation when the car is stolen

• Unauthorised car access alert (Intrusion alert)

• Technology 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

• Geofencing (If the car goes outside a preset area, the owner will be notified about it)

• SOS SMS to an emergency contact in case of an accident

• View Car Health Dashboard

• Share location and get tracked live

• Tribes for socialising with other Tata car owners (gamification)

• Custom messages (‘Happy Birthday’, for instance) 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 (navigation)

As you can see, the car gets a few remote commands present in its connected car rivals like the MG Hector and the Kia Seltos. The Hector and Seltos also offer voice commands, remote engine start/stop, remote climate control, and more. The validity of the connected car technology -- iRA, What3Words (navigation), and ConnectNext -- is up to a year from the date of purchase. The app can be downloaded directly from Google Play Store or the iOS app store.  

The Safari is expected to come with 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment, a panoramic sunroof, cruise control, automatic climate control, bi-xenon projector headlamps, a semi-digital instrument cluster, an electronic parking brake, and much more. Securing its safety will be the front and rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, six airbags, and ESC. 

The Safari's visual upgrades include a new tri-arrow front grille, a slightly restyled rear bumper, new LED tail lamps, a larger rear quarter glass, bigger 18-inch wheels, and the likes. Inside the cabin, it will get a dual-tone creme and black theme, as seen earlier on the near-production spec Gravitas. 

Also Read: Tata Safari Vs Harrier: Top 10 Visual Differences

Under the hood, the Safari will carry a 2.0-litre diesel engine that produces 170PS and 350Nm. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic. Though not being offered at launch, the AWD drivetrain could be provided later, depending on the market. 

The car is expected to retail at almost a lakh more than the Harrier, with prices likely to range from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 21 lakh. The Harrier currently retails from Rs 13.84 lakh to Rs 20.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Safari is poised to compete with the MG Hector Plus and the upcoming second-gen Mahindra XUV500.

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