2500 Dollar Car Tata Motors Nano Car
From Tata’s press release, and spell checked since it was not written in ‘American English’ -
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 realize 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 meters, width of 1.5 meters and height of 1.6 meters, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly maneuver 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 customized to an individual’s preferences.
Fuel-efficient engine
The People’s Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminum, 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 minimize weight, which helps maximize 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 tires 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 )
Looks like a bad ass ride. But WTF, for $2500 bucks I can’t service my Aston Martin. Imagine what you could get if you stepped up to the sports package for a few bucks more. It is amazing what you can do with some smart engineering and a bit of child labor. Well that is not nice to say and not likely true, but how can you sell something that cheep? What would the auto workers union have to say about that… Who cares, for $2500 bucks!
The most comforting part about this is that I now know where all the worlds Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engines have landed.
The funny part is I would get one, but by the time it was here in the states, with tax, mark up, and short supply would end up being about 20 grand.
I keep thinking it would be totally funny to open the hood and see a Monkey on a tread mill like the old Flintstone cartoons.
The one thing they didn’t mention is that it comes in a package the size of cigarettes, and you must dip it in water for it to expand up to full sized. I’ll bet I can fit it into the back of a pickup truck. That would be cool, a couple of motorcycle ramps and you can drive it out.
And I thought I was only going to have negative stuff to say today…
I drive a 1968 Subaru 360 around town here in Los Angeles. It is a car that weighs 900 pounds and is powered by a 360cc. 20 horsepower two cycle engine. The design is very similar to the design of this car except that it was manufactured in high quality steel. What killed the car in America was not the safety factor but the fact that you cannot fit four fat American asses in one and still have enough power to keep up with traffic. They were eventually dumped into the ocean at the Santa Monica Bay. I am not fat and would definitly purchase one if it were to be made available in the U.S.
Marc -
I here that, but I’m sure the Greener folks would not take too kindly to a gross pollution producing 2 Stroke! Tons or is that Tonnes of these are all over…well the rest of the world. BTW, I dig 2 strokes! It is even rare to find them on dirt bikes and other fun loud smoke making machine (snowmobiles, outboards, etc). I’ll save the demise of the 2 stroke for a later rant, but yes head on out to Disneyland (Dit-ne-land) and you will see a nice cross section of middle America (No pun intended). We need to get our fat asses moving so we can fit into smaller cars
Oh well, still would be cool for a micro or nano car here. I have been in the Think, but not worth a damn as it didn’t run on gasoline but still a cool concept we just don’t have many choices yet, but I think with 5 dollar a gallon for gasoline we will start to see some
Thanks for the comments!
Sandy
What a bunch of dumb asses that responded to this post huh? First off, it is a two cylinder not a 2 stroke. Second, the idea is the peoples car, not the unions or the guy who drives and Aston Martins’ car.
There will be pro’s and con’s to this no matter how you look at it, but really the question is……shouldn’t all cars be something that people can actually afford?
It is about what ever you want it to be BTW, and the point is not missed at all, it is an inexpensive car. But, don’t you wonder why it cost so little? I do.
The dumb ass is likely you because I’m pretty sure the Subaru IS a 2 Stroke (Or 2 Cycle if that is confusing for you).
And if you want to buy a car that you can afford that’s good. Pick up the Autotrader go online and see what you can get for $2500. No shame in driving a used car. I have done so for most of my life. So saying cars for the masses can only be had if new and low cost, not really buying it…
All that being said I would still have one.
Sandy
Get them cars here now. I’m selling my lambo and buying my whole family these cars. I think there great. Hurry
They should come in a 6-pack for those that need to the volume purchase! But by the time the DOT/EPA get done with certifications likely would be about 30k each LOL.
If you check out the TATA site you can even do your own custom version with performance stripes, and other hot rod items.
Would be really cool to have one, could double as a golf cart too if that is your sorta’ thing
Keep the Lambo, just skip registration and insurance for a year and you can still get the family outfitted with the Tata…
Sandy