Filed under: Economy, Hatchbacks, India
VIDEO: Live reveal of Tata Nano plus more pics
click above to view more images of the Tata Nano
The unveiling today of the Tata Nano in India has caused quite a stir. The $2,500 micro car will officially become the world's cheapest production car when it goes on sale later this year, and we've actually been getting emails all day from people the world over asking how they can buy one.
We've got video of the Nano's live reveal at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, and it was quite an event. Consider that the unveiling's soundtrack was the theme music from 2001: A Space Odyssey, a.k.a. "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss. That's a pretty heavy score for such a small vehicle.
We've also added more pics to our gallery that show the Standard Nano and Luxury Nano from more angles, including our first view of the interior. We'll save you the suspense, it's spartan, very spartan. Don't expect XM and a navigation system to be offered in the Nano. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be that hard to find an optional nav system on some luxury cars that cost more than the Nano itself. Follow the jump to view video of Tato Nano being unveiled.
[Source: Tata Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Zerk 4:20PM (1/10/2008)
Nano Nato
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clive leonard 12:45PM (1/12/2008)
Believe this or not! I actually heard on tv, an announcer make the statement that what this country does not need is a cheap car. The nana is a fabulous offer to those who dont have 20 to 30K for a new car.
I think this car would bring detroit automakers to its knees and force them to start building inexpensive (cheap) cars with cheap labor. Hurrah! for Tata.
Throwback 4:22PM (1/10/2008)
Nano luxury? Now that is funny
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Vincenzo 1:41AM (1/11/2008)
Have you been to a Mini dealership lately?
Price stickers for that formerly "People's car" indicate that it became a luxury brand, $25000-35000.
Loner 4:31PM (1/10/2008)
A luxury plastic car lol
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Xcountryflyer 4:32PM (1/10/2008)
Its the new entry-level luxury small car from Jaguar. The Jaguar N-Type! Good luck getting in a crash in that thing. For $2500 something had to be skimped.
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Richard 4:35PM (1/10/2008)
I was just thinking..."If Stan Mott (http://home.att.net/~berliner-Ultrasonics/autocycl.html) had designed for the folks in Coventry you would basically have had this Tata with a "Leaper" on the front.
SPG 11:44PM (1/10/2008)
Ever been to India?
Famlies of four are on a singe motorcycle everwhere in dense traffic and highways.
This car is not only much safer then that but much more comfortable for the famlies.
And yes, I realize that by North American standards this car would pass zero safety tests.
But for India this makes sense and I give my cudos to Tata.
Mike 4:33PM (1/10/2008)
iTata!
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MemphisNET 4:33PM (1/10/2008)
Great that you can buy a $2500 car. But it will never happen here because of safety.
Does anyone else have the urge to smack it on the nose and say ''Ta! Ta! NO - we do that outside!''
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Alex 4:34PM (1/10/2008)
want one.
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daftpunk1976 4:38PM (1/10/2008)
....It's good for the people who needs a $2.500 car. I'm just worry about the ---Land rover and Jag...
Make me feel so sad about these two brands under the company like Tata.
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VP 4:44PM (1/10/2008)
Another moronic comment. Please do you think the Nano & XF would be made using the same materials? If you believe that go back to 1st grade. Tata group manages some of the biggest corporations in the world. Maybe some general knowledge should be a requirement before posting here!!
psarhjinian 4:47PM (1/10/2008)
As opposed to the company that made such refined pedigrees as the Escort? Please...
Jag and Land Rover have a nice name, pretty styling, mediocre performance for their respective classes, poor resale value and abysmal reliability. Both brands jumped the shark in the mid-seventies and haven't made any reasonable comeback since. Tata can't actually do much harm, considering how badly damaged both are.
psarhjinian 4:50PM (1/10/2008)
As opposed to the company that made such refined pedigrees as the Escort? Please...
Jag and Land Rover have a nice name, pretty styling, mediocre performance for their respective classes, poor resale value and abysmal reliability. Both brands jumped the shark in the mid-seventies and haven't made any reasonable comeback since. Tata can't actually do much harm, considering how badly damaged both are.
yi 6:47PM (1/10/2008)
....To the people who belive that Tata will do a great job on land rover and jag...
Let's waite 2 more years in this case. okay. And then we 'll see...
mattypape 11:05AM (1/11/2008)
well actually, Tata do know a thing or 2 about building tough vehicles, what do you think those trucks people drive in the himalayas are?
anyway did you know tata is also the 5th lastest steel producer in the world (that must help cut some costs possibly).
and tata is the worlds second largest tea producer (as in drinking tea).
psarhjinian 4:40PM (1/10/2008)
Again, it's $2500. Yes, you die if you were hit by another car at speed, but when you consider that this replaces the motorbike/scooter that's fairly prevalent in India, it's a reasonable gain in safety.
People--even in North America--ride bicycles and motorcycles on public roads and you don't hear a hue and cry from manly men about how they'd be squished in a collision with their HD truck. Its like small cars are somehow a personal offence to the kind of people who drive big vehicles; it forces them to, at some level, acknowledge that they're insecure and that they've spent tens of thousands of dollars to try and either rationalize and/or allay that insecurity.
I think there's some very interesting psycology there.
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mdm-adph 5:41PM (1/10/2008)
"I'ts like small cars are somehow a personal offence to the kind of people who drive big vehicles; it forces them to, at some level, acknowledge that they're insecure and that they've spent tens of thousands of dollars to try and either rationalize and/or allay that insecurity."
I think you hit the nail on the very tiny head.
far jr 8:37PM (1/10/2008)
You have likely never been the survivor of a high speed head on collision due to a DUI driver veering into your lane at 65mph. I have, and I can tell you that your childish "insecurities" B.S. is not well reasoned.
Although I also despise buffoons who drive big, fast, and or expensive vehicles and somehow feel this entitles them to more "rights" to the road. I also understand anyone who wants the biggest, safest, and best car that thier budget will allow for thier families sake.