Tata Motors launches the Sumo Grande MkII

Tata Motors has launched an upgraded version of the famed Sumo brand. They did it over a year back with the radically different Grande - but with all its flaws, it wasn't really a very popular buying option. But with the latest iteration - the Sumo Grande MkII Tata's engineers have ironed out all that was missing on the car and have finally made it a good car to buy. Visually the MkII isn't too different from the previous Sumo Grande. Subtle changes are noticeable though and they make the car look a lot classier than before. The car's now got a new grille to spice up the front and rubbing strips on the doors to break the monotony of the profile. The biggest change on the exterior and one that makes the Sumo Grande MkII hugely appealing is the incorporation of a near row of four LEDs on the wing mirrors for the turn signal indicators.

The new version of India's most loved people carrier isn't all about styling though - it comes with a whole lot of upgrades under all that bodywork which actually make a big improvement. The biggest change is in the suspension department with newly anchored stabilizer bars for the double wishbone coil springs in the front and the parabolic leaf springs at the rear and a more optimized differential ratio. The 2.2 litre DICOR diesel unit also has been tinkered around with and promises to be a lot more drivable than the earlier version. The engine makes 120 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque.

The Sumo Grande MkII also gets style upgrades like alloy wheels and a high-end music system with iPod connectivity. The Sumo Grande MkII is available in three variants and has been priced well taking the competition straight to the Mahindra Xylo as well as the Bolero and other UVs. The Sumo Grande MkII LX is priced at Rs 6.43 lakh, the EX at Rs 6.83 lakh and the top of the line GX at Rs 7.5 lakh ex-showroom in Delhi.