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.

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VIDEO: Autocar reviews Tata Nano, comes away rather impressed

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, India, Tata

Click above to watch video after the jump

Now that Tata's tiny little Nano is officially on sale, a number of media outlets around the world have found themselves behind the wheel, pouring over the positives and negatives associated with driving such an inexpensive vehicle. Interestingly, most of the reviews we've seen have been highly favorable. As it turns out, the World's Cheapest Car is just that - a real car. And it's a surprisingly decent one at that according to a motoring journalist from Autocar India who captured his initial thoughts on video.

We got a good chuckle from the reviewer's assertion that if the Germans had built the Nano, they would have added too much stuff to it and made their version just as expensive as the MINI, while if the Americans were behind the Nano, we would've priced it right below the competition and took away its striking price point. Is that funny because it reinforces stereotypes or because it's true? Click past the break to watch the video in full and decide for yourself.

Gallery: Tata Nano

[Source: Autocar via Jalopnik]

Continue reading VIDEO: Autocar reviews Tata Nano, comes away rather impressed

VIDEO: Autocar reviews Tata Nano, comes away rather impressed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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