[sourabhzen]

Originally Posted by trek

One of the main attractions for the buyer considering the Thar is the open top / soft top experience which the Sumo cannot offer. I had been to Goa recently and spotted a number of Thars used open top by the tourists.

If the Sumo is indeed launched with a hard top and a 4WD it will head the same way down as it happened with the new Gurkha models. For a 8 lakh budget, people will stick to the Ecosport and other compact SUVs that will be launched now. Plus the Sumo name and look is not what many private buyers will want to associate with.

There is still a lot of things that are missing in Thar. Main reason for Thar's popularity is the lack of other options in this segment.

When private buyers can associate with old MM540/Commader (that are used to ferry passengers as shared taxis in many parts of North India) then they can associate with Sumo brand too, provided the product is worth associating with.

Gurkha's filed majorly due to lack of dealerships and product marketing IMO.

[akshay4587]

Originally Posted by Maverick79

Sumo also has a soft top version. Hope BD Sir is looking at that option too.
Trying to still imagine how an open top Sumo would look like.. Where the Roll over bar will be placed? How the seating would be?
It can be a very good off roader with its minimal overhangs both at front and back.

Have you seen that in person?
If there was a contest for the most hideous looking 4 wheeler,a Sumo soft top would win it with flying colors

[mallumowgli]

Originally Posted by sourabhzen

When private buyers can associate with old MM540/Commader (that are used to ferry passengers as shared taxis in many parts of North India) then they can associate with Sumo brand too, provided the product is worth associating with.

Gurkha's filed majorly due to lack of dealerships and product marketing IMO.

Private buyers did not associate with the passenger ferrying MM540, but with the old original JEEPs. Whereas the Sumo, though a copy of the G-wagon, hardly has such an association in the minds of the buyers

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by trek

One of the main attractions for the buyer considering the Thar is the open top / soft top experience which the Sumo cannot offer. I had been to Goa recently and spotted a number of Thars used open top by the tourists.

You have answered your own question. The open top/soft top experience is unbeatable, but when you want to use the car everyday, the soft top experience becomes a pain.

[Maverick79]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Have you seen that in person?
If there was a contest for the most hideous looking 4 wheeler,a Sumo soft top would win it with flying colors

Yes. Very Much in person. Just missed the oppurtunity of travelling in it though.

It was also sold to many police departments in MH, AP, etc. Esp the BS III version.
Rural India has many of these still plying. Not mentioned in Tata Motors site now though.

[directinjection]

The soft top version of Sumo was called the Spacio. While Sumo came with 1948 CC IDI engine, Spacio employed 407's NA engine and came with round headlamps. It was phased out long ago.

Originally Posted by Maverick79

It was also sold to many police departments in MH, AP, etc. Esp the BS III version.

I think it only came in BS-II version.

[Shubhendra]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Have you seen that in person?
If there was a contest for the most hideous looking 4 wheeler,a Sumo soft top would win it with flying colors

Soft top Sumo is known as Tata Sumo Spacio, came with 3 liter DI engine and positioned against MM Commander.
They simply removed all doors and roof and put soft top.

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=ta...2F%3B325%3B190


Shubhendra

[CARDEEP]

More pics from same source, but no details unfortunately:





It looks more desirable than the Bolero 4X4 & hopefully should be as good offroad.

[trek]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

You have answered your own question. The open top/soft top experience is unbeatable, but when you want to use the car everyday, the soft top experience becomes a pain.

It's true that the soft top can be a pain but then we buy the Thar for the aura around it and not for its practicality or the lack of it.

The Sumo just does not fit the bill for an aspirational buy or for the urban buyer who wants the macho feel associated with open top jeeps.

It needs an all new exterior and interior to be considered by the urban family man. Add the missing but important factor of refinement to the package and then it can be a suitable competition to the Thar and other compact SUVs out there.

[1100D]

Originally Posted by CARDEEP

More pics from same source, but no details unfortunately:

Attachment 1202329

Attachment 1202330

It looks more desirable than the Bolero 4X4 & hopefully should be as good offroad.

This I guess looks like one mean machine. Hopefully there are better pictures and details of the engine etc. Given that its been placed in a semi articulation pose, assuming its a 4x4. Moreover, there are sheetmetal changes which makes it a good candidate for making it to production.

Tne engine seems to have a top mounted intercooler. Which is an indication of probably an exciting engine underneath

[4x4addict]

Guys, I will jump the gun here and mentioned that the person who envisaged this also envisaged another off-roader which has become the most popular new off-roader one can buy in India :-)

This particular vehicle is based on the Sumo 4x4 ambulance and has the 3.0 DICOR engine from the Safari 3.0 DICOR tuned to about 115 bhp. Transfer case is BW Mechanical. Hope this vehicle makes production as it will be much much better than Bolero 4x4.

[CARDEEP]

Originally Posted by 1100D

This I guess looks like one mean machine. Hopefully there are better pictures and details of the engine etc. Given that its been placed in a semi articulation pose, assuming its a 4x4. Moreover, there are sheetmetal changes which makes it a good candidate for making it to production.

Tne engine seems to have a top mounted intercooler. Which is an indication of probably an exciting engine underneath

There aren't more details available unfortunately. IAB says it is currently for the show only (refer - http://indianautosblog.com/2014/02/t...concept-116235; their website has more photos of the SUV).

BD Sir is the best person to quote on this.

[Parm]

Toyota LC 70, Defender 110, LR Discovery etc are all hardtop LWB have been very capable 4WD vehicle and with very good performance in offroad scene.

I think BD sir is going in the right direction with Sumo 4WD and the photos shown in this thread are definitely of a rushed up job with simple cosmetics with a nice paintjob and the accessories.

The real stuff are mechanicals under the skin and how the heavy Sumo fairs with its performance.

Good Luck BD sir and wish you all the best. I hope progress has been made in leaps and bound on the 4972.

[sunwarior]

Time to start saving up?

[1100D]

I was surprised that the post I made earlier did not make it, probably due to the intermittent server issues that had been part of life the last few days.

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

This particular vehicle is based on the Sumo 4x4 ambulance and has the 3.0 DICOR engine from the Safari 3.0 DICOR tuned to about 115 bhp. Transfer case is BW Mechanical. Hope this vehicle makes production as it will be much much better than Bolero 4x4.

There is a difference from the Army 4x4 Ambulance and its more than skin deep, if you note the front wheel center, you would not fiind the protruding hubs.

Originally Posted by Parm

Good Luck BD sir and wish you all the best. I hope progress has been made in leaps and bound on the 4972.

4972 was born pre BD era in TML. 4972 is not a 4x4.

Attaching a few more pics from the IAB site, to keep the interest going, as I find this car extremely handsome and desirable

If only they went back to the original grille, and a less flashy paint shade (but then since this is a show car flashiness is required)