New Tata Safari @ Rs 7.83 lakh

Tata Motors on Wednesday launched a new range of its SUV 'Safari', fitted with common rail direct injection engines, and said it had plans to offer other models with CRDi in the future.

"We have plans of upgrading all products and powertrain," Tata Motors Executive Director (passenger car business unit) V Sumantran said.

The Safari was the first model to be fitted with CRDi diesel engines, he said adding "there will be others to follow."

The company has priced the new 3-litre Safari range 'Dicor' (direct injection common rail) between Rs 7.83 lakh and Rs 12.70 lakh and expects it boost the model's sales by 25 per cent.

"For the last two years, we have been selling about 250-300 units of the Safari every month. With this new engine, we expect a 25 per cent growth over these numbers," the senior vice-president (passenger car business unit) said.

The company, among the top three car sellers in India, sells a variety of models. These include the hatchback Indica, sedan Indigo and its estate version Indigo Marina and utility vehicle Sumo.

The company's passenger vehicle sales last fiscal grew 27.9 per cent at 179,076 units, though it expects the growth rate to drop to single digit this year due to a host of factors.