A Closer Look At the Super Rare Tata Sumo 4×4 [Video]
Tata Motors is currently one of the leading car manufacturers in India. In addition to the present-day Harrier, Safari, and Nexon, Tata had a decent number of SUVs and MPVs in the 90s as well. One of the popular MUVs from Tata during its early days was the Sumo. It was initially launched in 1994. Over the years, several iterations of the MUV were introduced. It was available as a rear-wheel-drive vehicle for civilians. However, for the Indian Army, Tata built an exclusive 4×4 version of the Sumo. Here, we have a video of one such Sumo 4×4 SUV that has been customized or modified by its current owner.
The video was shared by Central India Media on their YouTube channel. The video was posted five years ago, and when the vlogger uploaded it, the SUV was up for sale.
We assume that the SUV has since been sold to another party. The front of the Sumo 4×4 looks just like the regular MUV. It features the Tata logo on the black grille, with rectangular headlamps and orange turn indicators right next to them.
At the front, the Sumo has a metal bumper, which is different from the regular version. The SUV also features a black metal bull bar, which gives it a rugged look. All four fenders have been widened and finished with black plastic claddings. Another major upgrade on this Sumo is the wheels. The SUV now has larger off-road spec tires wrapped around black steel rims.
The video mentions that the Sumo was purchased from a military auction and that the exterior and interior of the MUV have been completely reworked since then.
The MUV currently has no mechanical issues and is fit for on-road or off-road use. The Sumo used by the Army was finished in a shade of green, which civilians are not allowed to have on their cars. After purchase, the color of the Sumo had to be changed. It is now painted in an interesting desert brown shade.
At the rear, the car is equipped with a metal step ladder and a customized bumper. As for the interior, it appears to be in decent condition. Since this is the 4×4 variant, we see a scroll-type 4WD selector switch next to the steering wheel. It came with a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system, which means you can switch from 2WD to 4WD High without actually stopping. However, to engage 4WD Low, you’ll have to stop.
The Tata Sumo 4×4 is equipped with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, diesel engine originally sourced from the Peugeot XD88. However, This engine generates a maximum power of 63 horsepower and is coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox. We all know how this MUV got its name. If you guessed that it was inspired by Japanese Sumo wrestling, then you are wrong.
The Tata Sumo was actually named after one of the esteemed personalities within the Tata group, Sumant (Su) Moolgaokar (Mo). He was known as the architect of Tata Motors. He was the chief executive of Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO) and also served as the vice-chairman of Tata Steel.