Tata Merlin - Safari replacement? *UPDATE* Uncovered Pics on Pg 90

[Parm]

Tata should be using something like to keep alive the Safari Heritage and market the Merlin on Safari's lineage.

4x4 TATA SAFARI - YouTube

[himanshugoswami]

Guys a minor update, this time from my regular source:

the current Safari has not been updated for the last 12 months in any manner and NO furhter work will be done on it. TML will continue to sell it for a MAX of 12 months from the launch ofthe Merlin and then will be discontinued- the idea is to move the Safari range (i.e. Merlin) north of 10L- TML is hell bent on taking their image upmarket and Aria has given them confidence.

The Merlin interioirs will share a few aggregates with the Aria and the delay is apparently on account of some changes to the interiors. Also the Merlin is coming with the dual mass flywheel from the Aria

So those who are interested in picking up the current Safari should do so after the Merlin is launched- you can expect massive discounts.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

Guys a minor update, this time from my regular source:

the current Safari has not been updated for the last 12 months in any manner and NO furhter work will be done on it. TML will continue to sell it for a MAX of 12 months from the launch ofthe Merlin and then will be discontinued- the idea is to move the Safari range (i.e. Merlin) north of 10L- TML is hell bent on taking their image upmarket and Aria has given them confidence.

The Merlin interioirs will share a few aggregates with the Aria and the delay is apparently on account of some changes to the interiors. Also the Merlin is coming with the dual mass flywheel from the Aria

So those who are interested in picking up the current Safari should do so after the Merlin is launched- you can expect massive discounts.

I am sorry, but I dont completely get you here.

The Merlin is introduced, and stays in the 10L+ zone. The Safari then continues for one more year in the 7.5-10L range. But what happens after that??

We get to see a sub 10L Merlin or new "Safari" or something different altogether??

[himanshugoswami]

Julupani, from what my friend told me (and please note he is in prod dev and not marketing), Tata plans to exit the sub 10 L SUV segment for now since they want to position the Merlin as being distinct from the present Safari to avoid association with the negative market perception as regards quality and niggles. TML is confident on the quality of the Merlin and will thus eventually discontinue the present Safari and only sell the Merlin at 10 please price point, till such time the all new Safari comes out.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

the idea is to move the Safari range (i.e. Merlin) north of 10L- TML is hell bent on taking their image upmarket and Aria has given them confidence

Isn't scorpio selling more because of the price factor [to some extent] on account of Safari being more expensive?

Originally Posted by julupani

The Merlin is introduced, and stays in the 10L+ zone. The Safari then continues for one more year in the 7.5-10L range. But what happens after that??

I guess Merlin will be sold until the ALL-NEW-SAFARI launches which is couple of years from now - could be.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

Julupani, from what my friend told me (and please note he is in prod dev and not marketing), Tata plans to exit the sub 10 L SUV segment for now since they want to position the Merlin as being distinct from the present Safari to avoid association with the negative market perception as regards quality and niggles. TML is confident on the quality of the Merlin and will thus eventually discontinue the present Safari and only sell the Merlin at 10 please price point, till such time the all new Safari comes out.

I was so wishing you wernt going to say what you just did.

They literally have given up on the Sumo, allowing the Bolero a free reign, and now in a year they will give up on the sub 10L SUV/MUV market.

Tata seriously need a bigger and more efficient ERC.

[Parm]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

Guys a minor update, this time from my regular source:

the current Safari has not been updated for the last 12 months in any manner and NO furhter work will be done on it. TML will continue to sell it for a MAX of 12 months from the launch ofthe Merlin and then will be discontinued- the idea is to move the Safari range (i.e. Merlin) north of 10L- TML is hell bent on taking their image upmarket and Aria has given them confidence.

The Merlin interioirs will share a few aggregates with the Aria and the delay is apparently on account of some changes to the interiors. Also the Merlin is coming with the dual mass flywheel from the Aria

So those who are interested in picking up the current Safari should do so after the Merlin is launched- you can expect massive discounts.

Originally Posted by julupani

I am sorry, but I dont completely get you here.

The Merlin is introduced, and stays in the 10L+ zone. The Safari then continues for one more year in the 7.5-10L range. But what happens after that??

We get to see a sub 10L Merlin or new "Safari" or something different altogether??

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

Julupani, from what my friend told me (and please note he is in prod dev and not marketing), Tata plans to exit the sub 10 L SUV segment for now since they want to position the Merlin as being distinct from the present Safari to avoid association with the negative market perception as regards quality and niggles. TML is confident on the quality of the Merlin and will thus eventually discontinue the present Safari and only sell the Merlin at 10 please price point, till such time the all new Safari comes out.

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Isn't scorpio selling more because of the price factor [to some extent] on account of Safari being more expensive?



I guess Merlin will be sold until the ALL-NEW-SAFARI launches which is couple of years from now - could be.

thats correct information about the current Safari, soon to be launched Merlin and the Future ALL NEW SAFARI.

current safari would be sold along side Merlin, there after its production will come to a halt and Merlin would continue till the ALL NEW SAFARI comes and then the Merlin would take place of the current safari.

guys please note that why the Merlin is called Merlin and not SAFARI?

because its not the ALL NEW SAFARI and when the current safari dies, tata will launch the ALL NEW SAFARI and Merlin becomes a second fiddle to the ALL NEW SAFARI!

so the SAFARI is reborn as the ALL NEW SAFARI, influenced by LR. expect a mix of Safari heritage and LR design.

Merlin is just a face lift with better mechanicals to fill the gap between the current safari and the ALL NEW SAFARI.

as himanshu said, get ready for BIGGER discounts on the current safari in few months as stock will be cleared!

[himanshugoswami]

Parm, I guess you shoudl clarify that the pic you have posted is just an artist's impression, lest people start wondering

[Parm]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

Parm, I guess you shoudl clarify that the pic you have posted is just an artist's impression, lest people start wondering

NOTE: the photos posted by me are only artist's impression and influenced heavely by LR.

[safari_lover]

So the strategy is to launch only the high end versions of the Merlin now and once the current Safari dies and the new one arrives the lower versions of the Merlin will be launched to fill in for the current!

BTW @himanshu, any update on the launch dates? Festival season or AutoExpo?

[Bimster]

Originally Posted by Parm

NOTE: the photos posted by me are only artist's impression and influenced heavely by LR.

All that "artist" did though,is to put TATA and Safari badges (with some other minor touch ups) on a Discovery3/LR3!
That said,Merlin, from spy shots,looks like a nice modern SUV.

[Parm]

Originally Posted by safari_lover

So the strategy is to launch only the high end versions of the Merlin now and once the current Safari dies and the new one arrives the lower versions of the Merlin will be launched to fill in for the current!

BTW @himanshu, any update on the launch dates? Festival season or AutoExpo?

Congratulations Safari lover, you are the first guy in this thread to understand what TATA is doing with current Safari-Merlin-ALL NEW SAFARI!

thats the precise reason why the face lift is called Merlin (no safari word used)

[JagMan]

shouldnt tata also look at more engine options to differentiate between trim levels? a more powerful engine more specifically.

tata vehicles end up being heavier as it is. at least the higher end versions should get more powerful motors.

[kaks15]

Originally Posted by Parm

Congratulations Safari lover, you are the first guy in this thread to understand what TATA is doing with current Safari-Merlin-ALL NEW SAFARI!

thats the precise reason why the face lift is called Merlin (no safari word used)

Launch a problem free product now, remove the heritage product in phases, lower the price of new product, launch the heritage product in an all new avatar in higher price range.

It seems to be a perfect strategy! One word for strategy formulation at TML - Respect
Lets hope the implementation is as astute.

[Parm]

Originally Posted by Bimster

All that "artist" did though,is to put TATA and Safari badges (with some other minor touch ups) on a Discovery3/LR3!
That said,Merlin, from spy shots,looks like a nice modern SUV.

glad to know some one atleast noticed the LR3, expect a similar NEW SAFARI!