click above to view more high-res images of the Tata Nano
Tata has pulled the wraps off its long-discussed and highly-anticipated 1-lakh (around $2,500) car. The orb-like Tata Nano was unveiled at the New Delhi Auto Expo today, boasting a 30-horsepower 624-cc engine; a four-speed manual transmission; a disc/drum brake setup; room for five (based on the above photo); and claimed fuel economy of 54 US miles per gallon. There's no power steering, and you'll find more instrumentation on many wristwatches -- the Nano has only a fuel gauge, speedometer, and oil light. Suspension? Well, it has one. Tata claims that the car meets safety and environmental standards (such as Euro IV emissions compliance), and we're sure it won't be long before tests show whether the car is indeed up to snuff in those areas. Say hello to the new "people's car," brought to you by the same folks who hope to sell you Jaguars in the not-so-distant future. We'd say that if all goes as planned, Tata's got just about every possible demographic covered. Thanks for the tip, RV!
UPDATE: Official Tata press release added after jump.
UPDATE 2: Official pics added to gallery.
[Source: Rediff, photos by Manan Vatsyayana/Raveendran for Getty]
PRESS RELEASE:
Tata Motors unveils the People's Car
A comfortable, safe, all-weather car, high on fuel efficiency & low on emissions
Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the Tata 'NANO', the People's Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People's Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People's Car will be launched in India later in 2008.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, "I observed families riding on two-wheelers - the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors' engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People's Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People's Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility."
Stylish, comfortable
The People's Car, designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room. It can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy.
Yet with a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars.
When launched, the car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual's preferences.
Fuel-efficient engine
The People's Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.
Meets all safety requirements
The People's Car's safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.
Environment-friendly
The People's Car's tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.
(For more information: www.tatapeoplescar.com )
About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of US $ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina. The company already distributes Fiat branded cars in India. Tata Motors' international footprint includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pick-up vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the U.K., and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 14)
KnightRider @ Jan 10th 2008 2:46AM
Impressed!
TATA's Nano: $2500
Take your family and all their relatives around town at 50 MPG:
Priceless!
Nicole @ Jan 10th 2008 3:42AM
We should be glad they are making economic vehicles for this part of the world.
If they would buy and operate American style cars and trucks in large numbers, the demand for oil would skyrocket. $100 per barrel would suddenly sound like a bargain, and we'd soon have gas prices of $8/gallon like the Europeans have now.
Shri @ Jan 10th 2008 9:34AM
what so ever....
i know its not a car of my type.....
but I m gonna buy one.....
for me.....
for my Mom n Dad....
for my Sis.....
and yeah...
we love Mr Ratan TATA...
Fernando @ Jan 10th 2008 9:46AM
I dig the 10" rims and the criss-cross wipers.
BTW, how fast do you think this could go with 5 people in it? 25MPH, tops? (not that this will be driven on a highway)
Mike @ Jan 10th 2008 11:36AM
Um, Nicole:
What do you think is going to happen to the price of gas when suddenly 1,000,000 more people can afford to buy a car instead of taking their motorcycle or bycicle? Not to mention the severe increase in emmisions you will see (literally...)
But hey, I am sure it is America's fault, right?
Mike @ Jan 10th 2008 11:37AM
Um, Nicole:
What do you think is going to happen to the price of gas when suddenly 1,000,000 more people can afford to buy a car instead of taking their motorcycle or bycicle? Not to mention the severe increase in emmisions you will see (literally...)
But hey, I am sure it is America's fault, right?
Louis Duran @ Jan 10th 2008 11:51AM
I see Nicole's point. Forget India, Americans shouldn't be driving American style cars. Who is the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitter currently? And who is the second largest emitter? From which country do Americans buy the most imported products? So, yes, Mike it IS mostly America's fault.
PS: That Tata car is garbage.
Spike @ Jan 10th 2008 12:15PM
Louis, China surpassed the US in carbon emissions over half a year ago. (That's mostly due to their coal power plants n stuff, though)
John in KS @ Jan 10th 2008 12:34PM
Where can I buy one? My 94 Geo Metro is about to give out, only have 136,000 miles on it now and the milage has fallen to 42 mpg from my usual 48 or 49, so need to change soon.
Brian @ Jan 10th 2008 5:04PM
Its about time some company attempted to do something right. Maybe if we drove these "many miles to the gallon" cars, gas prices would come down!!
There is already technology to have cars run off of water. I have a copy of a news segment from a guy in Texas who could run a car off of water only! Too bad people are too greedy to share things like this!!!
Louis Duran @ Jan 10th 2008 1:42PM
Spike, thanks for the info but I already knew that China and the US are 1 and 2. So, not only have we "offshored" our manufacturing sector but we also "offshored" the pollution. But we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that their pollution isn't going to affect us nor the fact that they are demanding more and more resources that generate that pollution.
fusen @ Jan 10th 2008 2:59AM
so someone please tell me why you'd spend the equivalent of £1250 on this which although looks new(obviously) it has pretty much an abysmal engine and no thrills inside the car, compared to a second hand car like a 306 or a micra etc, the typical first person's crappy car which is still cheaper and seems to be better spec than this "cheap car"
Nicole @ Jan 10th 2008 3:36AM
You look at this through the eyes of someone in the wealthy Western world. Most of the buyers of this car don't know much about cars and want a reliable mode of no-frills transportation that's cheap to run and fix. An older used car will have to be replaced sooner than one of those, and probaby consume more fuel, etc. I'm sure the total cost of ownership for this vehicle is quite reasonable.
Justin @ Jan 10th 2008 10:44AM
This car looks worst than a death trap on wheels. Probably crumples like a soda can. I guess that's how the control the population in those countries.
Takeo @ Jan 10th 2008 11:37AM
That's a pretty ignorant comment there Justin, ever consider what the average road speed in India might be?
Scott Harris @ Jan 10th 2008 3:00AM
wow good job
jex @ Jan 10th 2008 3:02AM
Not bad. Beats what Indian families are doing now: loading up the motorbike with a family of 4, 5 or even 6. Nuts!
roshan @ Jan 14th 2008 5:02AM
Best comment so far... I am from India & couldn't agree with you more. I think It fits Indian condition not necessarily that of the US. I Hope with a little design (body, more powerful engine, bigger tires etc.) change, it can compete in the US mini car market.
#1CHAMP @ Jan 10th 2008 3:05AM
Let us see what happens when these cars are crash tested in the U.S... and how reliable consumer reports and the other car mags rate them. Good luck in the emissions department also. If they get good ratings I might even buy one, if they ever sell them here.
Teryy Sanford @ Jan 10th 2008 5:38AM
From Canada: This commenataor makes a very valid point. The nano is not the type of vehicle that would necessarily meet my requirments in a wintry Canada!
But remember the Nano car was not desigened or intended for US conditions or to meet the expectations of US customers; or to be driven on US style highways.
In areas such as India and other parts of the world the vehicle will cost the equivalent of one to several years of annual earnings thereby making family transportation available to many. Driving conditions in many parts of the world are very different to those in North America; anybody who has visited such places as Sri Lanka, India, araound parts of the Mediteranean etc. will understand that.
The Nano also will use much less gasoline than most vehicles; up to 50 miles per gallon!
Another indication that US designed 'monster' vehicles are not the best for all parts of the world and indicated by the decline of US auto manufacturers is the increasing predominace of other world car manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Chinese brands.
The predominance of Volvo, Tata, Leyland, and other trucks in many parts of the world is, for example, an indicator that the North American truck product is not the best answer everywhere.
It is somewhat disappointing that the North American car truck industry is not more flexible?
Our experience also is that even Japanese designed products manufactured/assembled in the USA have slightly lower quality than supposedly identical vehicles actually manufactured in Japan! So the 'quality' factor is also present when North american vehicles are to compete with others!