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CAR drives Tata Nano, goes 60 mph in 17 seconds
Click above for high-res image gallery of the Tata Nano
The Tata Nano's claim to fame is its budget $2,500 price tag. You'd have trouble picking up a 1995 Honda Civic with 140,000 miles on it for that price. But what do you get for the price of a lawn tractor? How about a 624cc 33-hp motor mated to a four-speed manual transmission, for starters. That potent combo will propel any lucky Nano driver from 0-60 in 17 seconds. Add some groceries and a passenger (or a slight uphill grade) and we're guessing you'll never see 60 mph in any time frame.
CAR Magazine in the UK recently became one of the first publications in the world to drive the Nano and did mention that it has a compliant ride, which is quite a feat considering the MSRP. The Nano also has options like a radio and air conditioning, but if you ever want to go faster than 50, we'd advise you skip the freon. Tata is looking to remedy this "performance" problems with a more powerful gasoline powerplant mated to a five-speed automatic, but for now the Nano will only manage to hit 60 in the time it takes to heat up a hot dog in your 1,200-watt microwave. That 13-year-old Honda is starting to sound pretty good right about now.
Gallery: Tata Nano
[Source: CAR Magazine via eGMCarTech]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Justin 9:33AM (12/09/2008)
This post wreaks of missing the entire point of this car.
Reply
JZeke 9:38AM (12/09/2008)
+1
Chris 9:44AM (12/09/2008)
reeks...
Randy915 11:02AM (12/09/2008)
For a city car, fine, but for multifunction use the author has a point. This car will not work for a majority of Americans because we rely on highways so much and even if one only dwell in the city I'd still be hard pressed to find many people that would want to be seen in such a hideous pile of crap.
For the same price I'd rather get a car that can actually get onto the freeway if I need to. I didn't realize the car had such a low top speed and presumably this is with 1 or 2 passenger...
James 11:21AM (12/09/2008)
Well, Randy915,
that's why this car was neither designed with you in mind, nor will be sold in your country! Don't bag it before you understand its purpose.
Judy Zik 11:28AM (12/09/2008)
This car was never meant for the North American market. So who cares. Take a look at traffic in India and you will see entire families traveling on a single scooter. That is the target market. This will be India's Model T. Be thankful for the fact that it is small and efficient because the more gas they consume the more you are going to pay at the pump here. I also hope it has low emissions because the last thing Asia or this planet needs is more smog.
PJ 12:46PM (12/09/2008)
Chris, you do realize that, as recently as the late '80s, it was commonplace for U.S.-market compact cars--particularly those with automatics--to do 0-60 in 13-17 seconds, right? Accords, Camrys, Cutlasses in the next class up only knocked it down to 11-14 seconds.
Somehow, we all survived. I love speed as much as the next guy, but if you think your Camry really needs to do 0-60 in 6 seconds to be safe on crowded roads--and will actually get a chance to do it more than once a week--you've been watching too many commercials.
As for the Nano, most of its target buyers don't commute on six-lane freeways. Negotiating semi-paved lanes between towns doesn't require blazing performance.
zamafir 12:50PM (12/09/2008)
I'm with justin. good luck finding that fantasy honda in india at a price families looking to upgrade from their scooters to the nano can afford. This is india, it's a third world country, the goal of this car is to allow familys to move to four wheeled transport as opposed to stuffing 4 and 5 people on a scooter. Yes it's fun to be witty Chris, just don't come off as a pretentious prick when doing so - especially when that forced wit causes you to miss the point by a mile.
JZeke 12:53PM (12/09/2008)
Its funny, but the actual Car article sings its praises:
"But after experiencing it in action, we’re more convinced than ever of the transformational effect the Tata Nano could have on this industry. And in times like these, we find that strangely comforting."
Who gives a crap about a 13 year old Honda?
Epyx 2:57PM (12/09/2008)
Judy,
"Take a look at traffic in India and you will see entire families traveling on a single scooter. This will be India's Model T. Be thankful for the fact that it is small and efficient because the more gas they consume the more you are going to pay at the pump here. I also hope it has low emissions because the last thing Asia or this planet needs is more smog."
By your logic would it not be better to keep them all on the scooter? Rather than commend this death trap should you not be fearful that now almost anyone can afford to drive a car...and in turn help kill the planet. That is using your logic.
Mehul 11:32PM (12/09/2008)
Interesting how Autoblog takes two rather positive reviews and turns it into mockery.
Both articles praise what you get for your money. If you're gonna complain about performance, take into consideration what the vehicle is made for and that it gives 60MPG.
I know I'm gonna get low ranked.
Flashpoint 9:34AM (12/09/2008)
This thing's center of gravity would allow it to tip over at speeds over 30mph if it hit a pothole or was struck from the side (it would roll like an SUV).
as Audi used to say with the A4 "Wider is Better"
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Alex 9:36AM (12/09/2008)
I thought that was Pontiac with the Grand Prix Wide-Track...
TORONTO 9:38AM (12/09/2008)
I think a bird could crap would knock this thing over...
Torrent 11:25AM (12/09/2008)
I can see the thing imploding if you make a sharp turn...
Alex 9:35AM (12/09/2008)
How long after this goes into production will it take for someone to drop a hayabusa engine in there? That'll make for some entertaining youtube.
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Mazda FTW! 9:37AM (12/09/2008)
I'm from India and theres no such thing as a '94 Civic there. This car is perfect for the majority of Indians who currently drive scooters and cycles. I grew up in a family with a 800cc Suzuki and a 1000cc Fiat Uno and that was as much power as anyone needed.
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USCGTO 10:28AM (12/09/2008)
saying 800 cc and fiat Uno power is enough is a big over assessment.
Saying 40HP is all you ever need is kinda dumb, no offence intended. Its perfect for 98% of the Indian community in India. But then, the remaining 2% do represent 21 million people, right.
I, well my family in India, have an Accord, a Skoda Superb, and an E class. They all shine on the DND flyover, Delhi-Chandigarh, Mumbai-Pune expressway. When it comes to horsepower, more is less.
You realize it when those 800s and Uno's, Zen's and Santro's, are thrown intio the deepest corners of ur rearview mirris withing seconds of sightings..
Kitko 10:46AM (12/09/2008)
This car is meant to be what was original Fiat 500 for the Italians. Give the motoring to the masses, The 500 was essentially a Vespa Scooter for 2 adults and 2 kids. Nano has exactly the same purpose. Yes, it's ridiculous by western standards, yes it's underpowered by our standards, but when it comes to driving on ever congested streets of Delhi full of ancient Hindustans... what can be better as a scooter replacement for family needs.
It's not the car for the 2% minority that can afford western cars.
USCGTO, why on earth did you buy a Skoda Superb, don't worry, Skoda is almost my domestic brand...)
USCGTO 10:58AM (12/09/2008)
SUPERB was the biggest possible car, bigger than the E class, with good enough powerplant 2.8 V6. We had an octavia instead and were involved in a crash almost head-on with a 800cc maruti suzuki, and while we did have some damage to the car, (the axle broke) 2 occupants in the suzuki were critically injured. After looking at that Skoda octavia one wouldnt believe that everyone basically just walked out of it..
It was that safety reassurance that tilted the desission towards teh Superb, when it came to upgrade..
The Superb is one Big car.. basically E class car for the price of the C class..