Tata Motors of India revealed his long awaited $2,500 or 1 Lakh Tata Nano at New Delhi Auto Expo.
The Tata Nano is a 2 cylinder, 624-cc engine car with 33 horsepower while consumes around one gallon per 54 miles. According to Tata Motors, the Tata Nano People’s car enjoys all the safety and environmental standards. It has equipped with air conditioning but without a power steering and the dashboard. It just has a speedometer, fuel gauge and an oil light. The capacity of Tata Nano fuel tank is 30-liter, with four-speed manual gearshift, front disk and rear drum brakes.
Indian market is a huge one for low cost and cheap two-wheeler cars as about seven million sold last year. Main other players and competitors to receive from a decent indian market share are Bajaj with a $2750 car, Renault and Nissan studying the feasibility of a $3000 economic car.
Filed under: Automotive, people, Technology Tagged: | Auto, Automotive, Nano, Tata Motors, Tata Nano, World Cheapest Car
* I LOVE IT! ITS GREAT! Congratulations. Its cute, its efficient. Its the Mini all over again. They should call it the New Model T{ata}
HOWEVER ;
1. Exactly 100 years after the Model T Ford 20HP, we have an increase of 13 HP???!!! Thats 1 HP PER DECADE!
Ducati & many others can put out > over 200 HP/Liter.
Therefore this vehicle should easily be putting out at least 60 HP naturally aspiated. A turbo &/or supercharger should put it close to 100 HP.
2. ENGINE LOCATION: Rear mounted engine? What about MID-ENGINE? Where will the 30 Liter gas tank go? In the FRONT?
I am aware that snow in India is as rare as hens teeth, but mark my words, this vehicle will find its way into less favorable climates. Imagine snow & ice, even rain, vehicle fully loaded, on those little itty-bitty, poor Tonka Toy tires. This is a nightmare waiting to happen.
3. NO REAR SEATBELTS! When said accident happens {SEE 2 ABOVE}, only front seat occupants may be treated to some form of safety.
Mr. Ratan Tata, if there is any truth in your reason for producing this vehicle for the safety of your people, PLEASE do NOT exclude 3 POINT REAR SEAT SAFETY BELTS AT ANY COST! Thank you.
4. DIMENSIONS; This vehicle is more than 2 x long as it is wide. Combined with 2. above & a family of 5 & this is truly an accident waiting to happen.
5. Infrastructure? Roads & Highways? Parking?
The “people’s car” is a wonderful example of India’s mid-20st Century mindset and its squandered chance at 21st Century development. My short essay on this, India Going Nowhere Fast, can be read at http://memestreamblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/india-going-nowhere-fast/.
MBJ