I think the car starts at $2,500. I want one!
New Delhi: New Delhi: The secret is out. As Ratan Tata unveiled what was perhaps the most-hyped four-wheeler of the year, excitement was palpable at the Auto Expo show in New Delhi. As Nano, Tata's famed Rs 1-lakh car, was unveiled, there was a thunderous applause from those present.
The base model of Nano will cost Rs 1 Lakh excluding levies.
First Look: Exclusive pictures of Tata Nano
Reacting to the launch of Tata’s Rs 1-lakh car, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said, "If everyone buys the small car, where will they keep it. Where will they drive it?â€
The car will have a three-cylinder 800-cc petrol engine with 33 bhp of power. It will also have a 30-litre fuel tank and four-speed manual gearshift. The car will come with air conditioning, but will have no power steering.
The car will have front disk and rear drum brakes. The company claims mileage of 20 kmpl in city and 26 kmpl on highway.
''Since, promise is a promise the standard dealer version will cost Rs 1 lakh,'' said Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata.
He also said that that the car is eight per cent smaller bumper to bumper, than the Maruti 800 but at the same time 21 per cent larger in its interiors and can sit up to four people.
Talking about the safety of the car, Tata said, ‘‘the car has passed the full-frontal crash and the side impact crash''. He added that the car will meet Euro IV norms.
The car will be available in many variants, which will include one standard version and two deluxe versions with AC.
First Look: Exclusive pictures of Tata Nano
The initiative will determine Tata's place in the global automotive arena, where the battle is increasingly being fought in emerging economies such as India, China and Russia.
Only 10 years ago, Tata Motors Ltd unveiled its first car, a hatchback, that established the truck maker's credentials as a car maker.
The new model, using re-engineered plastics and modern adhesives, is a far cry from the premium Jaguar and Land Rover bands Tata is negotiating to acquire from Ford Motor Co.
Tata Motors' drive to produce a cheap, no-nonsense, small car was born from close observation of a local market where millions often ferry families of four, plus baggage, on motorbikes and scooters
The gas mileage equates to roughly 60mph...caught it on the Today Show this morning ;) This car is wicked cool in regard to effiecieny, but isn't it rather like riding a bike in traffic? Personally, I'd rather have the bike. At least I can flail my arms around like a mad woman if someone is getting too close to me, lol.
I still want one though;-) And what the heck is this guy talking about when asking, "where will you keep it?" Hell, I'll keep it in my dining room and still have space for a table and chairs!
Hmm, it can't be run on bio-diesel :(