Tata's $2,500 car to be unveiled next month
Tata Motors is expected become the winning bidder for Jaguar and Land Rover in the coming weeks. While the Indian automaker could soon be selling us expensive British luxury cars and SUVs, it's also hard at work developing the world's least expensive car. The cheap car under development is expected to sell for around 100,000 rupees or around $2,500 USD, and we've just learned it will be unveiled early next month at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.Unfortunately, that's one auto show not on our itinerary to attend, so we'll have to report of its debut from afar. The car is expected have an engine in the rear powering the rear wheels, four doors and all the creature comforts of an outhouse, we'd presume. While it's likely the car will be exported to other markets outside of India when it goes on sale later in 2008, don't expect to see it in the U.S. as we expect it would fail both our emissions and safety standards with flying colors. (Tata Indica pictured for reference)
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Barbara 10:57AM (2/12/2008)
Still waiting to see when it is coming to the US
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Barbara 1:57PM (2/12/2008)
VERY EXCITING, WAITING TO FIND A PLACE TO BUY ONE FOR MY NEPHEW
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Smeagle 4:48PM (12/20/2007)
Rear engine, rear drive... should handle like a 911 then!
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sw 4:59PM (12/20/2007)
hahaha, I have two legs, eyes and arms. I should be able to run like an olympic athelete, be a great sharpshooter and an world class boxer right?
Will 5:10PM (12/20/2007)
Rear engine, rear drive, no creature comforts, sold on price alone. Original Beetle, anyone?
KnightRider 4:58PM (12/20/2007)
Rumor is that costs have gone up, so they will bump the price at around $3000. with a 600cc-ish engine. Not bad I would say for indian roads/traffic.
Hopefully they have crash tested atleast 1 car.
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Syco 5:00PM (12/20/2007)
Wheels and engine dont come standard...
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Dinger 5:15PM (12/20/2007)
Car Buyer: What's with the big box?
Sales guy: That's your new $2,500 car sir.
CB: What? A box full of parts?!
SG: Well you said you didn't want to pay for any options sir, and that included the option for factory assembly.
Yubastard 6:22PM (12/20/2007)
^^^ LOL!
Steve C 5:08PM (12/20/2007)
Sounds like the original VW Beetle or even the original Fiat 500-600.
They were both basically a very small rear engined steel box that got you from point A to point B.
The perfect urban people mover.
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Tired 5:11PM (12/20/2007)
Good deal, my wife's tatas were twice that!
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Sean Flanagan 5:43PM (12/20/2007)
You've only spent $5000 on your wife? That's the real bargain in this story!
CEMan 6:27AM (12/21/2007)
That is so bad it is really freaking good.
Shrawan 9:31PM (12/20/2007)
you people can only mock and comment...anyways..hats off to tata motors..
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CEMan 5:42PM (12/20/2007)
Show us your TaTa's
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jay 7:37PM (12/20/2007)
now...why would you want to see his?
Atropos 5:42PM (12/20/2007)
this company HAS to name its next car 'bodacious'
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Mallory 6:07PM (12/20/2007)
I've had the misfortune of experiencing Indian traffic 1st hand and to do it in anything other than a tank is taunting death. If this is the tin can death trap I imagine it is then Ganesha help them.
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Xcountryflyer 6:30PM (12/20/2007)
How about I shine up your Tata?
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Toy Yoda 7:05PM (12/20/2007)
This post is degenerating into talk about meat and po-tatas.
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