[shortbread]

Now that the rear door does not need to be strong enough to take a spare wheel dont you think the Merlin will have a lighter rear door.

[Parm]

Does this look like a 2nd hinge about the one on the bottom?

[condor]

Yes, Parm. Looks like the second hinge.

That shape of the door will not allow a hinge in the top half. Also, the current drop of Safari's & Sumo's all have hinges in the bottom half alone.

@Raj,
I thought the part you marked as #1 was a (rain) visor. But the Safari does not need one there because the last row glass is not openable.

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by condor

I thought the part you marked as #1 was a (rain) visor. But the Safari does not need one there because the last row glass is not openable.

Or is it just an extra plastic muscle?

Waiting for some better pictures soon.

[Maverick79]

Originally Posted by condor

Yes, Parm. Looks like the second hinge.

That shape of the door will not allow a hinge in the top half. Also, the current drop of Safari's & Sumo's all have hinges in the bottom half alone.

@Raj,
I thought the part you marked as #1 was a (rain) visor. But the Safari does not need one there because the last row glass is not openable.

+1. It is a hinge only. Just saw it. The door will be opened sideways unlike the top opening as discussed earlier in the thread.
Couldn't take pics as I was restricted by the driver.

Sat inside and found the floor much eleavted than the safari.
Found a new decent clock in the console. Also found a covered storage space on the centre of the dash top.

The interiors seem to be a bit different from the older sibling.
The head lamp levelling and lights on off switch are rotary like the European counter parts. Looked very nice though.

When discussed with him, came to know there are no major changes in the skin. All the changes were done for improving the handling. There would be a sea change in the handling parameters.
Missed the T.D as the battery was compltely dead for this particular vehicle. Don't know the reason for this.
Further, few vehicles are being tested all across the country in disguise.

Get ready for the scoops guys.

[himanshugoswami]

Sat inside and found the floor much eleavted than the safari.

That cant be a good thing- this means that the Sofa like seating of the Safari has been compromised.....wonder why?

[condor]

Maverick79 : Sat inside and found the floor much eleavted than the safari.
himanshugoswami : That cant be a good thing- this means that the Sofa like seating of the Safari has been compromised...

How was the seating ? Sitting a little higher ? Less/more comfortable ?

Maverick79 : Looked very nice though.

@Maverick, did you specifically check for the rear door - or were you able to get a view of the vehilce without the camouflage ?

[adidac369]

Originally Posted by absynthguzzler

In true bollywood sshtyle ....... Nahiii !

Tailgate is definitely top hinged. Protrusions could be pneumatic setup for the door lift. But in all honesty, a Safari without tailgate mounted spare tire is a sore thought . I'm gutted .......

Hi, I dont think so. If you noticed the step at the rear is to the left which means the rear is hinged to the right.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by Maverick79

Sat inside and found the floor much eleavted than the safari.
Found a new decent clock in the console. Also found a covered storage space on the centre of the dash top.
.

There can't be any reason for that except if they lower the body height, which is definitely not on the pics.
Then why? The armchair like comfort seats is one of the Safari's strong point, why change it?
Hate SUVs which have car like seating, and the only difference being they are slightly elevated than cars.
Next what? Losing the magic ride for better handling?

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by Maverick79

When discussed with him, came to know there are no major changes in the skin. All the changes were done for improving the handling.

Thanks for the details!

Eager to know the improvements done in interior. Is it worth waiting till October for Merlin?

[Parm]

lots of LR influence in the Merlin or you can say lots of inputs from LR for the merlin.

the improvments made on the current safari onto Merlin will lead into the ALL NEW safari.

[condor]

@Parm - another 2-3 years for that, IMO.

[rajchetan]

Originally Posted by condor;2438676
@[B

Raj[/b],
I thought the part you marked as #1 was a (rain) visor. But the Safari does not need one there because the last row glass is not openable.

@ Condor, It Dose not look like a rain visor as its just to the last quarter of the Glass. Have to wait for better pics i think.

Originally Posted by Maverick79

+1.
Sat inside and found the floor much eleavted than the safari.
Found a new decent clock in the console. Also found a covered storage space on the centre of the dash top.

Get ready for the scoops guys.

@ Maverick, doubt the floor will be raised further. Please confirm if u have seen a uncovered Merlin or was it under wraps..? Also is the Dash a upgrade of Safari or a lift off from the Aria.

Originally Posted by Parm

lots of LR influence in the Merlin or you can say lots of inputs from LR for the merlin.

the improvments made on the current safari onto Merlin will lead into the ALL NEW safari.

@ Parm. I for one think its baby steps that Tata is taking. A complete influence from LR for Safari / Merlin will only be seen in the ANS. And now that the Merlin is to be launched, It dose not make Business sense to launch such a heavily revised Safari if the ANS is around 2-3yrs away. Hence i think ANS is at least 3-5years Away.

[Maverick79]

[quote=rajchetan;2439431


"@ Maverick, doubt the floor will be raised further. Please confirm if u have seen a uncovered Merlin or was it under wraps..? Also is the Dash a upgrade of Safari or a lift off from the Aria."

The Dash is an upgrade and not a lift from Aria. I found the contours very nice and simple.


"@Maverick, did you specifically check for the rear door - or were you able to get a view of the vehilce without the camouflage ?[/quote]"

I acutally got to see the Merlin just after reading the tail gate post. So started to look at the vehicle from the back first.
Though I was a camouflaged vehicle, I tried to open the rear gate and its hinged on the right unlike the top as discussed in the forum earlier.

The camouflage is mainly a body hugging plastic sheet with paddings here and there to hide the exact body lines.

[anujmishra]

Two things I did not like

1. Cladding was butchered at diesel filling place for clear door opening. This is something eyesore and hinders smooth flow of cladding.

2. Door handles looks utterly cheap and basic design. Is it chrome? Looks like manufacturers are obsessed with chrome treatment.


Rest other thing I feel considerate improvement on current Safari

1. Spare tyre gone from back. It will help clear rear visibility and suppressing rear door squeaking.
2. Cladding quality looks good.
3. Separate footstep for rear entry.
4. Nice tail light.
5. Tyres look 15 incher to me. Am I correct?