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]
Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept
Spy Shots: Production Audi TT Clubsport Quattro
Chevy Camaro getting early unveil at Indy in September
James Garner recovering from mild stroke
VIDEO: God's ringtone is a V10-powered Audi R8
First Drive: 2009 Ford Escapes, more of almost everything
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
_thumbnail.jpg "Lamborghini Reventon unboxed in Las Vegas")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Zerk @ Jan 10th 2008 4:20PM
Nano Nato
clive leonard @ Jan 12th 2008 12:45PM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:22PM
Nano luxury? Now that is funny
Vincenzo @ Jan 11th 2008 1:41AM
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.
Johnny082 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:25PM
looks like a Prius that got hit in the face with a shovel. lol.
Loner @ Jan 10th 2008 4:31PM
A luxury plastic car lol
Xcountryflyer @ Jan 10th 2008 4:32PM
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.
Richard @ Jan 10th 2008 4:35PM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 11:44PM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:33PM
iTata!
MemphisNET @ Jan 10th 2008 4:33PM
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!''
Alex @ Jan 10th 2008 4:34PM
want one.
daftpunk1976 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:38PM
....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.
VP @ Jan 10th 2008 4:44PM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:47PM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:50PM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 6:47PM
....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 @ Jan 11th 2008 11:05AM
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 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:40PM
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.
mdm-adph @ Jan 10th 2008 5:41PM
"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.