The Desert Storm 2012 (Xplore category) won by 'Tata Sumo Gold'

Tata Motors Full Throttle rallied home to victory in the 10th edition of India’s longest and one of the toughest off-roading events, the Desert Storm 2012 rally. Tata Motors took the honours with the new Tata Sumo Gold bagging first place, driven by Ganesh Moorthy and co-driver T. Nagrajan, followed by Sanjay Ram Takle and his co-driver Mohd. Mustafa, won the third place in the Tata Sumo Grande.

The 6-day long Desert Storm rally, many times is referred to as the mini Dakar rally, is the longest and amongst the most challenging rallies in India. Flagged off from Ahmedabad, on 20th February, 2012, the rally spanned a grueling 3,500 km through the Rann of Kutch, Bhuj, interiors of Rajasthan through Barmer, Jaiselmer, Pokhran, Thar, Bikaner and Jaipur, before reaching Delhi.

Besides the Tata Sumo Gold, Tata Motors’ UV portfolio comprises the the premium Crossover Tata Aria, the Tata Safari 4x4, the Tata Sumo 4x4, the lifestyle pick-up Tata Xenon XT. The new Tata Sumo Gold is a result of extensive consumer studies and field tests. The product has been designed to fulfill various requirements, long-awaited by the new generation customer. At the heart of every Tata Sumo Gold, lies a growling engine that thumps out vicious power. The Tata Sumo Gold goes a step ahead in putting the reins of power in the customer’s hands, by letting him choose from two powerhouses, that suits his driving experience, delivering the best-in-class acceleration, power and an excellent torque aided pick-up & pull power.

Company stated that Symbolising a new elevated state of automobile engineering, the all-new CR4 Turbo engine brings fresh blood to a lineage of powerful engines. This 2956cc determined powerhouse delivers an output of 85Ps @ 3000rpm and a torque of 250Nm @ 1000 to 2000rpm.

With a stunning mileage of 14.7 kmpl, this engine is one giant leap ahead of the rest, in its league. Bringing years of know-how to a lineage of power is the Di Turbo engine. This 2956cc engine is all-muscle, generating an output of 70PS @ 3000rpm and a torque of 225Nm @ 1600 to 2000rpm. Its sheer size and heft makes the Di Turbo the largest sized diesel engine. This engine delivers an impressive mileage of 14.3kmpl.

Tata Motors came up with the Tata Motors Full Throttle, as a platform for steering the company’s participation in motor sports and allied activities.

The platform also helps the company, in organising and synergising all efforts and activities, in the area of motor sports, including development and testing. Tata Motors had earlier participated in several international rallies such as the London – Capetown rally (1998), ASEAN rally (2004) and the SAARC rally (2007), with the Tata Safari. In the past, independent participants have also driven the Tata Safari and the Tata Xenon XT (a 4x4 lifestyle pickup), in various rallies.Automobile News