| Tata Motors is preparing to give its utility vehicles, the Sumo and the Safari, a facelift. The new Sumo will hit the roads in the first week of January 2004, while the new-look Safari will follow later.
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| The move is being seen as a strategy to take on rival Mahindra & Mahindra’s Bolero and the new-look Scorpio.
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| Sumo and the Safari have been doing well in the utility vehicles segment with sales of 14,000 units in the first half of 2003, a 23 per cent growth when compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
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| Though Tata Motors’ executives refused to divulge details on the changes that will be made, sources close to the company said the Sumo would retain its original engine and gearbox.
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| Changes will come in the form of minor external modifications at both the front and back-end, small efforts at smoothening out the Sumo’s angular lines, and a complete revamp of the interiors.
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| The spartan interiors of the car have not been very popular with utility vehicles buyers.
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| Tata officials did not give any indications on the revised pricing for the car.
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| Auto analysts believe this could be Sumo’s last lease of life before Tata Motors phases out the vehicle to replace it with another offering in the utility vehicles segment.
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| The Sumo, which was launched in 1995, has served its time well, not much has been done on the car since its launch except small external modifications and a change in the car’s gear lever positioning. |
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