Autoblog

Tata recalling all pre-2012 Nano models over bad starter

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Recalls, Safety, India

Tata Motors has issued a recall for all Nano models manufactured between July 2009 and October 2011. The company will replace the vehicles' starter motors free of charge. And while the Indian automaker has declined to say just how many vehicles will be affected by the recall, local news reports have said as many as 145,000 Nano vehicles will receive a new starter. Tata says the recall has been underway for some time, noting it has already replaced somewhere around 50,000 starters to date. The entire recall program is expected to cost Tata around $20.8 million at current conversion rates.

The automaker has released an updated version of the Nano called the Nano 2012. The revised model is not included in the recall.

Tata hasn't seen the sort of sales success the company had hoped for with the world's least expensive new car. From labor unrest to perception issues to a wave of fires and safety upgrades, the Nano has had a hard row to hoe since birth.

Tata recalling all pre-2012 Nano models over bad starter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First 2012 Tata Nano commercial released, it's "Insane, bro!"

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Tata

Tata is discovering, painfully, that perhaps it went a little too cheap when it designed the world's cheapest car. The Nano has been selling at about one-twentieth of company projections, which led to upgrades such as more power, more room, an anti-roll bar, power brakes and better steering.

The first commercial showing off its new attitude has been released. It's understated by what we think of as Indian standards, but it does include the line, "Insane, bro!" You can enjoy it and the new Nano after the jump.

Continue reading First 2012 Tata Nano commercial released, it's "Insane, bro!"

First 2012 Tata Nano commercial released, it's "Insane, bro!" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata Nano gets upgrades, looks to beat sluggish sales

Zach Bowman — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Etc., Hatchback, India

Tata is out to battle lukewarm demand for the company's Nano with a range of improvements to the world's least-expensive new vehicle. Engineers have upped the Nano's power and fuel efficiency while decreasing emissions at the same time. The vehicle's 624-cc engine now produces a whopping 37.5 horsepower, enough to help the machine tackle up to 30 percent road grades and reach a max speed of 65 mph. The company has also reworked the suspension on the Nano with a new anti-roll bar in the front as well as a redesigned steering mechanism.

More importantly, the Nano Standard now comes with power-assisted brakes. That nicety was only available on higher trims in the past. Inside, the Nano now wears new materials available in three colors: beige, black or gray, though buyers may now select from a range of 10 different exterior paints.

Tata is likely desperate to do something to improve the vehicle's sales. While the company originally projected that buyers would take home between 20,000 and 25,000 Nano vehicles a month, September only saw 1,200 units leave dealer lots. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Tata Nano gets upgrades, looks to beat sluggish sales

Tata Nano gets upgrades, looks to beat sluggish sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is the Tata Nano a failure?

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials, India, Tata

When the Indian conglomerate Tata announced the Nano in 2008, it promised an automotive revolution equivalent to the Model T. The $2,200 Nano would be priced at half the cost of its competition, and single-handedly make four-wheeled transportation ubiquitous in India. Well, that was the plan, anyway.

ForeignPolicy.com is reporting that some three years later the Nano hasn't even begun to live up to its billing. While Tata projected monthly sales of 20,000-25,000 cars, in August the factory shipped a mere 1,200. Despite an annual production capacity of 250,000 Nanos, the company has only managed to sell about 129,000 to date.

While new product failures are a dime a dozen in the auto industry, the homegrown Nano seemed like such a slam dunk, its failure is shocking. Yet FP says the Nano's biggest problem should have been easy to see: Nobody, not even those in developing countries, wants a car whose primary attribute is that it is cheap.

Nano sales have also been hurt by problems with Tata's dealer network and safety concerns after reports of cars catching on fire. Tata told FP that it is addressing these issues, and a new advertising campaign for the car is airing on national television. A Tata spokesman also noted that over 90 percent of Nano owners have reported being satisfied with their cars.

So is the Nano a failure? Certainly it's not the success that many predicted, but revolutions aren't usually as neat and tidy as Steve Jobs liked to make them. And even if all that talk about Tata exporting the cars to the U.S. is looking like utter nonsense today, we found things to like about the Nano when we drove one last year. We're willing to concede that the final chapter on Tata's people's car has yet to be written.

Is the Tata Nano a failure? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata finally shows off its $4.6M Nano Gold Plus

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Tata, Design/Style

Tata is looking to play with both sides of the automotive pricing coin. On one side, it has the Nano, which is arguably the least expensive new automobile on the planet. In its native India, the Nano can be had from around $2,500, and it's been reported that an updated version would run around $7,000 if sold in North America. Now, however, there is now a special new version of the Nano which raises costs a bit. How does $4.6 million sound?

The Tata family has produced this gold and jewel encrusted Nano as a celebratory ode to their Gold Plus jewelry stores. While a $4.6 million showpiece seems a bit much, it's not everyday your company celebrates its 5,000th anniversary.

This Goldmember-mobile is covered in 176 pounds of 22 karat gold. Add in 33 pounds of silver and over 10,000 precious gems and stones, and you have the bling ride to end all bling ride discussions. Let's hope they upgraded the powertrain to cope with all that extra weight, eh? Get a closer look at this one-off $4.6 million Nano by clicking through our gallery.

Tata finally shows off its $4.6M Nano Gold Plus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Unconfirmed next-generation Ford and GM truck powertrain details swirl

Zach Bowman — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Technology, Ford, GM, Rumormill

TheDetroitBureau.com is reporting a few juicy rumors about the future of full-size pickups from both General Motors and Ford. According to details supplied by shadowy sources, Ford is currently hard at task on the development of a range of new V6 engines. The powerplants are said to be under development in a range of sizes, including 2.6-, 2.7- and 3.0-liter displacements. The engines are being crafted under the codename "Nano" with a single dual-stage turbo making up for the cut in displacement. The largest of the trio is said to have a target of 300-315 horsepower, which is effectively what the current naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter V6 churns out. TDB maintains that the new V6 lumps may also work their way into the Mustang line at some point as well.

The report indicates that GM, meanwhile, is hard at work on a forced-induction V6 of its very own to fight Ford's EcoBoost surge. Additionally, the company's heavy-duty trucks will be the only models available with the big-boy 6.2-liter V8, while both light- and heavy-duty pickups will be available with the company's 6.0-liter V8. Finally, the tried-and-true 5.3-liter V8 will soldier on for the next-generation as well.

Unconfirmed next-generation Ford and GM truck powertrain details swirl originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Tata to double Nano production amidst sales uptick

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Tata Nano has enjoyed an increase in sales in the last couple of months, reportedly sparking Tata Motors to double production of its budget-minded microcar this fiscal year. In March, the Indian automaker moved 8,707 examples, pulling to within spitting distance of its 9,000-unit sales record for July, 2010.

After a summer selling record numbers, the Nano's sales plummeted to just 589 in November, following numerous reports that alleged that the cars were mysteriously bursting into flames. After the mysterious fires, Tata offered free extended warranties on the cars, up to 90 percent financing on easy terms, and a comprehensive maintenance plan at just 99 rupees a month (about $2.25 U.S.).

The incentives seem to have struck a chord with buyers, and the Nano is right back where it was a year ago. Currently, Tata is building 9,000-10,000 cars a month at its Sanand, India plant, and had planned to increase that rate to 15,000 this fiscal year. In light of the sales spike, though, that number was bumped to 18,000 to 20,000 units a month.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Photos copyright (C)2011 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: The Hindu Business Line]

Report: Tata to double Nano production amidst sales uptick originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Tata hopes to offer $7,000 car in U.S.

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, India, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Tata Nano finally ready to take on U.S. roads? Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, believes so, but the car won't be the same $2,500 vehicle found in India. Instead, according to The New York Times, Tata says the American market will get a car built to be competitive here yet still priced well below the competition.

It seems the North American-spec Nano could cost between $7,000 and $8,000. Will that be enough to lure buyers into their local Tata dealer's showrooms? If gas prices keep climbing, consumers could be attracted by the Nano if the Americanized version can achieve something along the lines of the 52 miles per gallon city/62 miles per gallon highway fuel economy that the current model achieves.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Photos Copyright (C)2011 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: The New York Times]

Report: Tata hopes to offer $7,000 car in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Tata Pixel given European green light

Aaron Richardson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Tata, Diesel

2011 Tata Pixel Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tata Motors has reportedly approved the Tata Pixel, a microcar concept it showed off at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, for production. The minute Pixel is advertised as the most efficiently-packaged four-seater in the world. It comes in at just under 10 feet long, and is nearly a foot shy of the Tata Nano's overall length.

Assuming the report from Autocar is accurate, the Pixel will take the place of the previously-proposed Nano Europa once the doors have been converted to traditionally-opening units and the gauges have been engineered.

The Pixel will be powered by the Nano's 60-horsepower, 1.2-liter diesel, which will be mounted under the back seats, turning a five-speed gearbox. No word yet on when Tata plans to have the car on sale, but it seems to be pushing through quickly.

Gallery: Tata Pixel Concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Tata Pixel given European green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why, yes, that is a Tata Nano covered in pure gold

Noah Joseph — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, India, Tata, Design/Style, Luxury

Tata Nano Gold Plus by Titan Industries - Click above for image gallery

Try to imagine the most basic car on the road, and you'll likely conjure up images of the Tata Nano. The Citroën 2CV of our time, the Nano was conceived as bare-bones, bargain-basement transport for the masses. But while it makes the rest of us wonder how much our own cars are really worth, sales of the diminutive budget car have been lagging in the wake of safety concerns after cars were reported to be spontaneously combusting due to bad wiring and such.

To drum up enthusiasm for the Nano, Tata has brought in one of its subsidiaries, Titan Industries, to give the car a more luxe appearance in the form of gold and jewels. Celebrating the 5,000th anniversary of Indian jewelry, Tata and Titan launched a public campaign to solicit designs for a bedazzled Nano. Thirteen designs came in, with the winner you see here chosen just a few days ago. The conspicuous one-off will be crafted out of pure gold by Titan at its facility in Bagalore. Have a closer look at the winning design, along with a couple of the runners-up, in the gallery below.

Gallery: Tata Nano Gold Plus by Titan Industries

[Source: International Business Times]

Why, yes, that is a Tata Nano covered in pure gold originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, India, Tata

She loves the new Tata Nano in the driveway - Click above to watch the video after the break

If small equals cute, the Tata Nano might be the cuddly-wuddliest little car in the world. Sadly, that cuteness isn't necessarily translating into sales at the level the Indian automaker was planning for. Hence, advertisements.

While Tata usually veers towards the humor side of the advertising coin, for its first Nano commercial, Tata has decided to dance upon the heartstrings of the Indian audience, and rather successfully we might add. 'Course, we're not Indian, and no, those weren't tears - we just had something in our eye...

Click on past the break to watch the Tata Nano advertisement, where you'll see an adorable little girl with too much eye makeup asking her grandmother when their new microcar will make it home. As you'll see in the video, the Nano impresses all who see it on its journey from dealership to neighborhood. And it finally gets a little eye makeup of its own. Aww...

[Source: YouTube via Indian Autos Blog]

Continue reading Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad

Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Tata Nano sales plunge to just 589 units in November

Chris Shunk — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, India, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Tata Nano was such a hot commodity when it entered the Indian market that Tata Motors felt compelled to hold a lottery to determine the first 100,000 customers. A reported 70,000 copies of the $2,500+ econobox have been sold to date, but November apparently didn't budge that number much.

Bloomberg reports that only 589 Nano models were sold in November; a minuscule total for a mass-market car. Tata CEO Carl-Peter Forster reportedly blames a lack of financing options as the reason customers aren't buying. Forster claims that the Nano is popular with customers who currently use a bike or motorcycle for transportation, and the feeling is that banks fear that extending a loan to a lower income buyer could bring increased risk of default.

But while bank loans are one problem, another issue could stem from the fact that the Nano has been in the news for catching fire. That's definitely not a desirable feature, and we're thinking that customers who plunk down their life savings for their first vehicle don't want their low-cost car to turn into a pricey car-b-que. The 'no loans' theory sounds even less likely after hearing that overall Tata sales in November were 54,622, up one percent year-over-year. And the icing on the cake? Tata has also raised the price of the Nano twice over the past few months; $198 in October and four percent back in July. That's about $300 more than the car sold for at launch.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Tata Nano sales plunge to just 589 units in November originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nanotechnology standards coming for auto industry?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

According to recent reports, nanotechology - controlling matter at an atomic and molecular level (thanks, Wikipedia!) - is about to hit the automobile world full-force. And the results could be both good and bad.

First, a few examples of the good: First we have a German chemicals company called Lanxess that's used nanotechnology to create tires that perform better than traditional rubber in both overall performance and wear. Secondly, under the hood of BMW's diesel models is a particulate filter coated with tiny carbon nanotubes, enabling it to remove 99 percent of all particulate matter. And finally, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with PPG to create a nanotech paint with a glass-like outer coating that's three-times less likely to scratch.

According to Wards Auto, though, nano particles "can behave in unexpected ways, passing through human skin into the blood or even brain." While we're not experts, the idea of nano particles on the brain doesn't sound very enticing. It's also not fully understood how these tiny materials can damage the environment and nature. In deference to these facts, the European Union is reportedly considering how best to define nano particles so it can regulate the technology.

The United States is also looking into nanotechnology regulations. Sally Tinkle, senior science advisor to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said, "The technology is new enough that we are not yet looking at tires or car bumpers that have nano elements and which have reached the end of their lives... But we understand the immediacy of these questions and the need to protect public health and the environment."

[Source: Wards Auto]

Nanotechnology standards coming for auto industry? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Quick Spin: 2011 Tata Nano CX - Driving the world's cheapest car

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, India, Quick Spins

2011 Tata Nano CX - Click above for high-res image gallery

People love the idea of super-cheap transportation. Two generations ago, Volkswagen captured the world's attention with the Beetle (known originally as "The People's Car"), but when people finally drove the rear-engined VW, they realized it was more than just a cheap car - it was remarkably fun to drive.

India's Tata Motors picked up on the people's car idea several years ago. Motorbikes and pedal bikes are the go-to transportation options for millions in India, which presented an opportunity. But with the average price of a new car in the U.S. hovering around $30,000, an inconceivable sum in the developing world, Tata would have to do something very different. The tiny Nano was the result. It's currently on sale in India starting at around $2,500. That sound you hear is over a billion people cheering because they can now envision themselves owning transportation with a roof that they don't have to pedal.

The pint-sized sedan wowed crowds at its New Delhi introduction in 2008 and Tata began exporting the Nano throughout the developing world. Speculation swirled that the company would eventually target the U.S. after the car was put on display at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, but do we really want it here?

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2011 Tata Nano CX - Driving the world's cheapest car

Quick Spin: 2011 Tata Nano CX - Driving the world's cheapest car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: GM and SAIC gearing up to take on Tata Nano

Zach Bowman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Wagon, China, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, India, Tata, Rumormill

2011 Chevrolet Sail

General Motors has saddled up with Chinese automaker SAIC in an attempt to bring a Nano-fighting value car to the Indian market. GM says that it will rely on SAIC mostly for its low cost manufacturing techniques instead of parts or components due to hefty tariffs on goods imported from China. That also means The General may also be able to skip out on some of the quality woes associated with the Chinese automotive universe by relying on the pool of parts already available in India.

The car is supposed to be smaller than the current Spark and hit the market at around $5,000. That's on the north end of how much Tata asks for the Nano, but GM still feels it can compete against the world's most affordable car. According to Gasgoo, the pint-sized econobox may actually borrow elements from the Chevrolet Sail. Evidently, the car has already spent its fair share of time under the baleful glare of Indian focus groups.

If it does take off, the GM/SAIC creation will be India's very first joint-venture vehicle.

[Source: Gasgoo]

Report: GM and SAIC gearing up to take on Tata Nano originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata Nano gets ill-advised haircut at the factory

Zach Bowman — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Hatchback, India, Tata, Design/Style

There are certain vehicles that were born to be convertible. The Tata Nano is not among them. The plucky, inexpensive little transporter is somewhat lovable in hardtop guise with its round overall shape and ladybug proportions. The cheapest of cheap cars is just too cute to hate, but make the mistake of pulling back the top sheetmetal, and you've got a sight that can't be unseen. A photo of a drophead Nano has hit the web courtesy of Wheelosphere - a site dedicated to India's blooming automotive world.

Fortunately, for the moment at least, the world won't have to deal with these things in the wild. The cars are apparently kept to the grounds of Tata's Sanand plant and used to ferry visitors from one portion of the complex to the other. That's just as well, really, because the car's semi-monocoque construction probably doesn't take too well to having its roof cut off, and we suspect that structural rigidity is now something of an open question (*rimshot*). If you can peel your eyes away from the missing roof long enough to check out the rest of the Nano Cabriolet, you'll likely spot some sporty step bars and classy side graphics, too. Excellent.

[Source: Wheelosphere]

Tata Nano gets ill-advised haircut at the factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

John McElroy — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, India, Tata, South America

It's Not Easy Designing Dirt Cheap Cars

Some of the most famous cars in the history of the auto industry were some of the cheapest ones. The Ford Model T, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Citroen 2CV and the BMC Mini were so successful mainly because they were so affordable.

Now the industry is trying to replicate that success by designing low cost cars for booming developing markets, like India. But they're discovering that building cheap cars is not nearly as easy as it sounds. And it all has to do with customer expectations.

In the past it was easy to build a cheap car for developing markets. All you had to do was take the tooling for an entry-level car that was being phased out of the market in a modern country and ship it to some backwater in the third world. Since the car was already developed and the tooling was already paid for, an automaker could build it cheaply with local labor. That's how it was done for the better part of the 20th Century.

But then came the internet. All of a sudden, car buyers in developing nations became fully aware of the outdated designs being foisted upon them. They could easily Google up the latest American, European and Japanese models, pore through the technical specifications, download the photographs and watch videos of them all in action. With their rising standards of living, they were no longer content to buy the clunky cars available in their home markets. They wanted what we have.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata completes Nano fire probe, says car is safe

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Safety, India, Tata

Earlier this year, there were reports of at least three Tata Nano runabouts channeling The Trammps and going up in Disco(unt) Infernos. Of the three Nanos that got the charbroil treatment, two of them were apparently due to a faulty switch. The third couldn't be explained, so Tata put together a team of 20 employees supplemented by a forensics expert to figure out what was going on.

Without explaining what happened, the team has reportedly "found no manufacturing defects," and according to PTI News, they say that the third incident is unrelated. Furthermore, all Nanos "absolutely safe." As you were, then. Still, in case current Nano owners want to be even more than absolutely safe, Tata will preemptively check any vehicle already in service.

[Source: PTI News]

Tata completes Nano fire probe, says car is safe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geely to challenge Tata, Renault with low-cost car?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, China, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Rumormill, Russia, Geely, Electric

Geely IG Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word on the web would have us believe that Geely has its eyes set on snatching the least-expensive car crown from Tata. The Chinese automaker has announced that it will bring its IG concept to market, and that it will cost a mere $2,250 at current conversion rates. If that's not enough to raise your eyebrows, the company says that its pint-size econobox will be a higher-quality alternative to what's currently rolling out of India. Granted, that's not exactly an atmospheric quality goal, but at this price point, every little bit helps.

Expect to see a 70 horsepower, 1.0-liter engine to put power to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox when the car hits markets in China and Russia. The company hasn't made mention of any fuel economy numbers just yet, but we have to imagine the IG can hold its own in that department.

Autocar reports that the company plans to have the IG in showrooms by 2012, and that there's some chance that an all-electric version will crop up in both Europe and the U.S. not long after. The company is already planning to swap the gasoline engine for an electric motor with 80 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. There's no word on what we can expect in terms of top speed, but the company says the concept is capable of cruising for 93 miles on a single charge.

Gallery: Shanghai 2009: Geely IG Fantastic Concept

[Source: Autocar]

Geely to challenge Tata, Renault with low-cost car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM unveils three futuristic, urban EN-V concepts

John Neff — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Hatchback, GM, Electric

GM EN-V concepts - Click above for high-res image gallery

Today General Motors unveiled a trio of EN-V concepts that showcase the automaker's idea for a new global, urban mobility vehicle. Developed in conjunction with its partner in China, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., the EN-V concepts build on last year's P.U.M.A. project that was developed with help from the balancing-on-two-wheels experts at Segway. Each of the three EN-Vs, which stands for Electric Networked-Vehicle, sports a different design. Why three? The various shapes demonstrate the flexibility of the electric drivetrain and are supposed to express three different characteristics: Jiao (Pride), Miao (Magic) and Xiao (Laugh). Jiao (the bubbly blue one) was designed in Austrlia by Holden, Miao (the blocky black one) was designed at GM's studio in California and Xiao (the streaky red one) was designed in Europe.

The EN-V concepts are GM's solution for the congested urban centers in which we're all likely to live by 2030. Their all-electric, two-wheel drivetrains take care of the emissions problem. They're also fitted with the latest GPS, vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity and an array of sensors and cameras that allow fully autonomous driving. The effect of all this tech is less congestion on city roads and the virtual elimination of accidents. Zero emissions, zero traffic jams and zero accidents - the future's looking bright!

Lithium ion batteries will take each EN-V up to 40 kilometers on a charge, which isn't that hard considering they only weigh 1,100 pounds. And since they're each less than five feet long, up to five times more of them can fit in a parking lot than your average car of today. Do they look as fun to drive as a Porsche Cayman? No, but driving a Porsche Cayman in a congested city center isn't all that much fun anyway. If we all end up living on top of each other, these little electric runabouts might be the best way to go.

The EN-Vs will be on display at the SAIC-GM Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai beginning in May. Feel free to follow the jump for GM's official press release that talks more about what our crowded future will look like and how the EN-V will help.

Gallery: GM EN-V concepts

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM unveils three futuristic, urban EN-V concepts

GM unveils three futuristic, urban EN-V concepts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments