Geneva 2008: Spending time with the Tata Nano
by Damon Lavrinc on Mar 5th 2008 at 7:02PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tata Nano.
The Geneva Motor Show provided our first opportunity to get up close and mildly personal with Tata's potentially revolutionary Nano. Overall, we're pretty damned impressed. The squat dimensions and short overhangs lend themselves well to the Nano's protuberant proportions, and as much as we tried, we had a hard time finding where Tata really skimped on the exterior elements.
There were two models rotating on stage, the $2,500 "basic" version that's garnered more press than Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan combined, and the lesser-known "luxury" version that gets an enhanced interior, some color-keyed body panels, fog lamps and larger wheels with an additional bolt (the lesser model only sports three lugs versus the upgraded model's four). Unfortunately, when we asked to take a look inside, the nice gentlemen from Tata kindly told us that the doors were locked and we'd have to make better use of our telephoto lens. That might be an indication as to where Tata skimped on materials, but for the money, the intended audience won't be expecting Audi-quality interiors.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ricotubbs 7:17PM (3/05/2008)
Only time will tell how many of the Nano's design elements will carry over into future Jaguar's.
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zamafir 7:19PM (3/05/2008)
"That might be an indication as to where Tata skimped on materials, but for the money, the intended audience won't be expecting Audi-quality interiors."
Might? No it's 100% where they skimped on materials. cost engineering is a booming business in india, the point is audi interriors or even civic reliability, it's about providing a car to a segment of the population which could never afford it so their children dont need to ride on the handle bars of bikes. It's the same trend which lead to the $20 cell phone.
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The Future is now 10:37AM (3/06/2008)
Sorry your wrong,
I had a good look at the iterior when Sir Jackie Stewart visited the stand and was allowed into the vehicle. The interior in this high end version had some excellent red leather seats and good looking dashboard including a passenger air bag. There also seemed to be rear seat belts, leather steering wheel and I would assume matching gear lever and chrome switches on the dashboard.
I think TATA have done fantastic with the nano, and the high end version shows the transition from low cost car for the masses to a small car with great potential suitable of satisfying consumers in the more progessed european market.
Those of us that were at the show on both press day's would note that the low end vehicle was next to the high end version on the 4th and moved for the 5th to the other turn-table an indication that perhaps TATA were trying to avoid damage to this small wonder, even before the public are allowed in.
I personally, I'm looking forward to the nano's visit to europe on a more permanent basis.
Well done TATA
zamafir 7:20PM (3/05/2008)
*isn't
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Fatima 7:21PM (3/05/2008)
Before everyone gets all tied up lets get a few things straight:
- This car is NOT comming to America
- It is built for Indian roads not American highways
- It is meant for the lower middle class to upgrade from an unsafe 2 wheeler where the whole family is packed on to and into a safer mode of transportation.
The speeds at which one drives in India does not require airbags or sturdy side panels.
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Sunny Brar 9:34PM (3/05/2008)
"The speeds at which one drives in India does not require airbags or sturdy side panels."
Have you ever been there? They drive MUCH faster out of the congested cities. I know the cities and towns are really crowded, but when I went there a couple of years ago, my dad and uncle used to drive the Scorpio at like 100 - 120 kmph -- the highest was 145 kmph.
I know this car won't reach those speeds, but for the record, your comment addresses everyone in India.
FThorn 6:43AM (3/06/2008)
How does COMMING get into people's heads as being correct?
antrow 7:29PM (3/05/2008)
"Honey, I shrunk the Prius"
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Marvelous 7:40PM (3/05/2008)
If they brought this over here with the proper safety appointments, Smart would flip. Imagine a brand new car for $5000 bucks that gets hybrid like gas mileage. This car would take profits from almost every car manufacturers. Fleet sales would be off the charts! I know American like their big cars ,but the senitment is changing as the population grows, gas prices rise and Americans now have to compete against a neverending onslaugt of emerging economies. Wow, the information age is crazy.
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Steve 2:42AM (3/06/2008)
Well, my life is worth more than that... so unless they can prove without a doubt that a $5,000 dollar car is safer than my BMW 7 series, I won't be buying it. Gas could be $10 a gallon, and my safety still comes first.
Geir E 6:26AM (3/06/2008)
The gas price in Norway have been very close to $10 a gallon. regular weekday price is about $9 a gallon.
There are barly any hybrids to be seen, the typical cars do 40-50 mpg if my conversion is correct. yes, we do not have that many suvs and cars with v8's. probably a speeding ticket here in Norway would bankrupt a regular american with the way they complain about gas prices. Drive in 65 mph in a 43 mph zone and you get a nice US$ 1 509 fine. I wonder what an american would say to that.
Jay 7:53PM (3/05/2008)
http://oldfords.org/images/Cyclops/2005_1221Image0001.JPG
So close...
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A&W 10:40PM (3/05/2008)
LOL!
Sherief 7:55PM (3/05/2008)
Can I get it with a Whistle Tip?
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Cire 8:18PM (3/05/2008)
It's fine for its intended market. Just make sure you keep them there.
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SR 8:23PM (5/26/2008)
That is what they said about Hondas and Mitsubishis. But I know a lot of North Americans who prefers Japanese and European cars to American ones.
tark 8:31PM (3/05/2008)
cire- not a chance.
can't wait to see Indian- diesel, cheap, small work truck very soon.
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almost Dr. G.. 8:32PM (3/05/2008)
how many of you want to see brabus do an SLR/Nano combo package like they did with the 112? HAHAHAHAHA!!
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CDN Crockett 8:59PM (3/05/2008)
LOVE IT!!!!
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Gregg 9:00PM (3/05/2008)
This is a mind boggling achievement. I'd buy two in a New York minute, still be spending less and having more safety and room than I'd have buying two Vespas.
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