New Tata Safari likely to be on view at Auto Expo; Merlin not its commercial name

Sources have revealed to IndianAutosBlog.com that Tata Motors is evaluating all possible options for the launch of the next generation Safari that's been testing since early 2010.

The company is likely to exhibit the model at the Delhi Auto Expo next year and launch it in early 2012. This was the strategy followed with the Aria crossover in 2010.

See interiors shots of the Safari Merlin

The new Safari will not grow significantly in dimension. It is based on the Aria platform and every body panel is different. Interiors are built making use of better quality plastics.

Merlin will borrow features and functions from the Aria. Technical changes have reportedly made the car much easier to drive in the city with a reworked steering system and gearbox.  The engine and gearbox have been retained and the power and toque outputs could rise marginally.

IndianAutosBlog can reveal that the name 'Merlin' is only an internal code. The commercial name will be different. Given that this is replacement for the existing Safari, it could use a suffix or continue without additions.

Spyshot sent in by Pune reader Anant Prakash.