Is Tata Motors developing new parts and upgrades for the Safari Storme?

Our friends at CarDekho.com ran a story this week on the future of the Safari Storme.

As Tata Motors takes a phased approach to the product's launch in the Indian markets, the product development division is reportedly finding new parts and upgrades to develop to go into future Storme variants.

A 2-DIN audio system and a touch screen infotainment system are apparently in the works. Tata launched these parts for the Aria and the Manza, and they could mount a derivative of an existing unit on the Safari's dashboard in the coming months.

Tata products have been spoilt with regular 'gifts' in the form of upgrades. Engines, interiors, electronics and even the chassis structure were revised in the Indica platform models and the Nano. The most recent instance is the launch of the Tata Vista Quadrajet 90, a faster Vista variant hosting interior upgrades, over three years into its launch.

The CarDekho report adds that testing of these newly developed parts are underway and are likely to appear on the market in mid-2013. Tata Motors can sell them as accessories or feature add-ons to existing buyers when they turn in their cars for scheduled maintenance.

Though the Storme needs a lot more than some electronic gadgets to compete with the brisk-selling XUV500, these features can help it consolidate its position of being the most comfortable and capable SUV in the market today, up to its class.

Don't forget to read our review of the Tata Safari Storme

The Storme is driven by a 2.2-litre CRDI engine that sends 138bhp/320Nm through a 5-speed manual transmission. The top-end variant comes with 4WD technology and Electronic shift-on-the-fly (ESOF), with a 5.4m turning radius and 200mm ground clearance.

[Source - CarDekho.com]