After the Aria 4X2 and the Vista upgrade, the next big launch from Tata Motors is going to be the Safari Merlin. Ever since the Safari was launched in 1998, it has achieved a cult SUV status like the Scorpio from Mahindra.
The Tata Safari was always an aspirational product from Tata Motors. You didn’t buy the Safari because it fitted your budget, but because you wanted one badly.
It was also a popular car for the who’s who of the country such as the politicians and film stars. But over the years, the Safari aged and the sales started dwindling. So Tata Motors has decided to breathe new life in the Safari with the Merlin.
Kapil Jagtap, an ardent IAB reader and a Tata Safari fanboy from Pune has sent us some kickass images of the new Tata Safari Merlin completely revealing the interiors.
If you have seen the test mule you are not sure whether the Merlin is a whole new Safari built from grounds up or is just a major facelift of the current Safari.
However, the test mules of the Merlin are being tested for months now. No manufacturer would test a facelift so vigorously. Tata Motors always wanted to use the Aria’s X2 platform for the new Safari so there is a high chance that this is a whole new Safari rather than just a facelift.
Tata Safari Merlin is not bigger, wider or longer than the old one
Let’s start with the exteriors first. The new Safari doesn’t seem to be any bigger, wider or longer than the earlier Safari. The front reveals a rather conventional boxy design than a curvy one. A close photo of the headlamps reveals it will have a single projector lamp and not a dual one.
The headlamp design itself has been completely changed. The old Safari had rectangular headlamps. The new one will feature a swept back design. There is no smiling grille which is a signature element on Tata products. Plus, there are also turn indicators on the OVRMs which is a safety feature more than anything else.
Tata Safari Merlin headlamps have a single projector and no LEDs
Although this test mule is covered in heavy camouflage, the rear reveals something every interesting. Notice the design of the tail lamps, the alloy wheels and the trapezoid exhaust pipes. Don’t they look very familiar to this undisguised image that was leaked back in July?
Image Credit - Facebook.com/cnbshow
This means that the image which was leaked in July (above) was of the actual Merlin before the psychedelic paint scheme. The back also reveals a tiny spoiler and a wiper to get a clear view while reversing. Tata should continue offering the rear view camera and sensors.
Tata Safari Merlin rear
Now we come to the juicy part – the interiors. Yes, this image clearly demonstrates what the new Safari interiors has in store for us. As you can see, the Safari interiors are NOT inspired by the Aria and are more or less the same like the old Safari. A few things that we have noticed are:
Tata Safari Merlin interiors are not inspired by the Aria
- The steering wheel will be leather wrapped.
- The new Safari will have Airbags like the old one. Notice the new gear lever and console.
- The stereo in this test mule looks like an aftermarket pioneer unit.
- There is no low ratio gearbox.
- There is a storage pocket above the central AC vents.
- It will not have a dead pedal
- It may not have steering mounted controls
- The rear seats have been redesigned
The steering wheel in leather wrapped but no audio mounted controls
Or course, we have extensively covered the Safari Merlin throughout its testing phase in our archives. You can browse though, by scrolling below for more information.
However, it still remains a mystery whether the Safari Merlin will be positioned above, below or at par with the Aria 4×2. There is a rumor that the Safari Merlin will be launched on the very next day the wraps are taken off the Mahindra XUV500.
Does this mean that the Safari has its eyes set on Mahindra’s global SUV? Or will Tata Motors try to undercut the Mahindra XUV500?
[...] The Safari Merlin has featured constantly on our front page over the past year. Right from the first clear shots of the interior, close-up pictures of a skin-camouflaged mule, providing the recipe through listing changes in the [...]
looking soo…….. dull ……………………………
the interior of new tata safari merlin is not nice
Tata Safari is one of my all-time favorites, and recently its manufacturer has created a lot of buzz by releasing the base Safari at a pleasing price of just around RS. 7L, which is very affordable for a vehicle of its class.
I owned a Safari for 2 years.. excellent value for money car , the best in cabin space ,and safest vehicle on the highway
Real upset with the interiors..pity!
[...] See interiors shots of the Safari Merlin [...]
old safari is best than merlin…i would like to purchase tata aria than merlin
I don’t get these TATA engineers… Why the hell are they behind the exterior design of safari. The existing design (I think) is one of the eye catchers in the industry. What they really have to change is the interior design. They have to bring some more quality into it with a modern design approach… don’t you people do some market research before redesigning something?!!!!
Tata must sell Potatoes …its game over …they lack thinking bags….Really disappointed with Safari Merlin
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[...] See inside-out spyshots of the Tata Safari Merlin [...]
Really disappointed to see that crap interior picture !! As other opinion safari need to have only batter quallitey interior
Safari is different class suv and This is not family suv car so no point to price competition with other SUVs
Only need to work on really good quallitey interior even worth to increased price by 2 lack but do it guys otherwise u will not have any chance to hit the market
TATA SAFARI.
THE NAME ITSELF MAKES A GREAT PROUD.I DO LOVE SAFARI.I WILL BUY IT IN FEB 2012.BUT I THOUGHT THAT MERLIN WILL ROCK THE AUTO MARKET WITH ITS NEW INTERIORS.BUT OLD ONE CONTINUES.
I THINK SO INTERIORS SHOULD BE LIKE ARIA IN NEW SAFARI MERLIN.
[...] Courtesy : IAB and The Automotive [...]
is no fortuner ..
Over All the exterior design is Good. Interiors, again the same, the in in front the Stereo player. i will cause in convienence to operate the system. same problem in earlier Safari
Hi tata,
disappointed!
in my opinion,plz dont change or touch the exterior design of tata safari its a great design.its my dream car.If you want to change plz do that with the same team who designed earlier…
[...] Source – IndianAutosBlog [...]
TATA needs to change its marketing strategy completly, right from Nano to Aria including winger, venture etc…
Tata motors – so far hopeless . no product on par with international standards.
how about aria ? how is the market response ?
Depressed with the interiors shown in the picture… I was not waiting long for this type of interiors for Merlin..
Really feel bad with the interiors… Three Thumps Down for this….
[...] Spy Pics Source – IAB [...]
The vehicles seems to be an evolution of the Safari and not a completely new car.
Can be called the Safari Evo.
Rear looks too simple, specially those tail-lamps. They seem to be picked up from a car thats 2 generations old.
Overall the new Safari seems to be having some design cues from the LandRover.
By the way it seems most companies have now switched to using psychedelic wraps. This makes our job of revealing the car much tougher now.
According to me they will have to price it below the XUV 500. THey will certainly not be able to compete with it as the XUV500 is a global suv and will have good interiors in terms of quality and design. Looking at the interiors of the merlin it doesnt look like an SUV worth 11L+ So according to me it would start at 9L till 10.9L. It would compete with higher/more expensive varients of scorpio and the ‘Force One’. And by no way this could every compete with the w201! I had high hopes from tata on the merlin!