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.
The move is being seen as a strategy to take on rival Mahindra & Mahindra's Bolero and the new-look Scorpio.
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.
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.
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.
The spartan interiors of the car have not been very popular with utility vehicles buyers.
Tata officials did not give any indications on the revised pricing for the car.
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.
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.