[troublemaker]

Originally Posted by harimakesh

Clear interior pictures of Tata Safari Merlin will be nice to see. TATA has good grip as not much has been leaked out on the new interiors. I Hopt TATA doesnot play spoil sport with the name.

TATA has weird congnizance on their supposedly unpopular / wornout old brand names as in the past TATA had attached Indica with Vista, Indigo with Manza as both were all new models.

Now TATAs brand Safari seemingly popular and has a good brand value but strangely TATA is giving a weird brand name Merlin.

TATA learns correctly and Name the revised Safari model correctly and price it fairly giving Defogger, Engine Immobilizer and ABS as standard on base models and Airbags as options.

I think they would want to sell Safari and Safari-Merlin side by side and take some premium on Merlin.

Personally, I don't think that is a good idea. TATA should just make brand Safari better.

[kaviprem]

From a good source
1. Few service engineers started to attend TML training on Merlin
2. First impression of those who attended ...

Current Safari looks better than Merlin [primarily due to the spare wheel not mounted in the rear door]
17" Alloys looks nice and a real PLUS to Merlin
Few features [nothing in specific mentioned] from ARIA coming into Merlin
2 versions planned [only Diesel] and I guess, it might be a 2WD and a 4WD
Price might be a lakh or so more than the current Safari which I think, it might be around 10L ex-showroom [NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS please]

3. Launch is expected to be April/May 2011.
4. Current Safari is going down the Sunset path :(

Prem.

[himanshugoswami]

Prem, any news on whehter ABS and Airbags will be available on the base variant also? 1 L more with at least ABS on the LX would be a great buy for sure.

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by kaviprem

4. Current Safari is going down the Sunset path :(

Oh shucks! That would mean an entry level SUV is going to be all the more expensive, since this would mean even the competitor would hike prices.

[montoo]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

How about this one:

Attachment 485032

Image courtesy is the link below:

Spy Shots : 2012 Tata Safari Merlin spied again | Rush Lane

EDIT: Me thinks me likes it!

THe headlights just look like of SUPERB(JUST ROTATE HADLAMPS).

[shankar.balan]

this pic - somehow gives me the impression of being quite like a Freelander at least partially in terms of the looks of the vehicle.

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

How about this one:

Attachment 485032

Image courtesy is the link below:

Spy Shots : 2012 Tata Safari Merlin spied again | Rush Lane

EDIT: Me thinks me likes it!

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

this pic - somehow gives me the impression of being quite like a Freelander at least partially in terms of the looks of the vehicle.

The A-pillar is ditto Safari. Merlin looks like a fender+Headlight job to me.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by kaviprem

From a good source

Good info Prem. Any idea if the power-plant will be any different? I believe the chassis is different too. Right?

Originally Posted by benbsb29

That would mean an entry level SUV is going to be all the more expensive, since this would mean even the competitor would hike prices.

On the contrary, current Safari will command a higher premium in the second-hand car market

[kaviprem]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Good info Prem. Any idea if the power-plant will be any different? I believe the chassis is different too. Right?



On the contrary, current Safari will command a higher premium in the second-hand car market

Power plant - No idea, but it might be same as ARIA and reserve the 3.0 L for "All New Safari"

I too thought about the second-hand premium for current Safari, but I doubted the same for various other reasons, I dont want to document them myself

Prem.

[Kairalee]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

something is surely brewing at Tata Motors w.r.t the Safari. all of a sudeen, there is aflurry of Safari Ads in the print as well as electronic media.

Originally Posted by amtak

Yes, someone's suddenly woken up at Tata Motors.

Originally Posted by An1

Maybe they're trying to push the current stock of Safari before the launch of Merlin a couple of months from now.

Originally Posted by kaviprem

4. Current Safari is going down the Sunset path :(

Prem.

I guess that's is also a reason why the TASS mentioned that only the VX will henceforth come in the 4x4 avatar. They dont want to make any more 'custom' beasts :-(

[nijan]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Good info Prem. Any idea if the power-plant will be any different? I believe the chassis is different too. Right?



On the contrary, current Safari will command a higher premium in the second-hand car market

another tragedy in car enthusiast's Heart like "TATA Sierra"

[akhilesh51]

Apparently Auto Bild has an 'exclusive' picture of Safari Merlin in its march 'SUV Special' issue. Dunno how reliable would one term this report and picture...

[kaviprem]

^^ Any online link possible ?

[tushky]

Found this rendering on Indian Car and Bike Blog Indian Automobile News Blog

[DicKy]

That Indian Car and Bike blog rendering is just lame.
Looks like some sedan face grafted into the Safari.
Hope the real one is far different from this one.