Tata Safari Merlin caught yet again undergoing test rounds
Published On Dec 08, 2011 11:51 AM By Vikas
Tata India is aggressively preparing for the upcoming launch of Tata Merlin at 2012 Auto Expo. The recently spotted SUV during the test runs is one instance that proves this point. The Tata Merlin is inarguably the replacement of the Tata‘s flagship SUV Tata Safari, but with a more refined look to be in tandem with the latest crop of SUVs. Tata's idea with the upcoming SUV is to topple the dominance of Mahindra's latest conqueror XUV 500 in the Indian car market. Therefore Tata has to be really careful while placing the Tata Merlin price which is all the more important to retain the competitiveness.
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Tata Merlin carries the similarities with its parent model right on its sleeve. Despite an improvement in the peak power output, the engine is basically the same Tata Safari's 2.2 L DICOR engine that churns out the maximum power of 140 Bhp and an impressive torque output of 320 Nm. The gearbox of the four-wheel drive variant of Tata Merlin is said to be the one with lower ratio. A lower ratio gearbox basically helps the SUV move with greater acceleration though lower fuel economy could be a sore point. Similar to Tata Safari, the Merlin SUV is also a seven seater with enough interior space.
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Like a traditional SUV, the Merlin also has a dual side seating layout in the rear side of the car without a separate room for the cargo space. The interiors are classier enough though not quite upmarket to be honest with the wooden trims but neatly laid out otherwise, but falls below the expectations if compared with its rival Mahindra XUV 500. Tata Safari is the first and the oldest SUV to mark the beginning of the SUV trend in India. The undying popularity of the SUV has always been retained despite the newer crop coming up.
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