India unveils the little runabout that's cheap at twice the price - the Tata Nano
t is 3 meters long, seats four comfortably or five at a squeeze, does 65mph and aims to revolutionize travel for millions. The “People’s Car” is also the cheapest in the world at 100,000 rupees (£1,300) – the same price as the DVD player in a Lexus.
The Nano, from Tata, the Indian conglomerate bidding for Jaguar and Land Rover, was unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo yesterday to music from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ratan Tata, the company chairman, harked back to the first flight by the Wright Brothers and the Moon landing as he revealed the cute, snub-nosed hatchback that will allow millions in India’s emerging middle classes to buy a car for the first time.
Way cool - I can afford a
new car!
funny.....i just today got an email with a compact car vs tractor trailer.....the driver was literally ripped in half. i nearly hurled.
Classic, I just saw that article on Drudge. I don't know if it would meet our safety standards.
The article says this car is meeting with a lot of criticism because even though it is very fuel efficient (allegedly 50 mpg), it will dramatically increase overall pollution and congestion as the masses buy lots of them. The current average speed on the roads of Dehli is 7 mph because there is so much congestion. Once these cars hit the streets in numbers, that average speed is expected to drop even more. which is good, since an accident at a higher speed would be fatal in this thing.
The low price is only good in 3rd world countries, because the car doesn't meet western standards. It would increase in price dramatically as safety and emissions equipment is added so it can be sold in the West.
And since this thread is nothing without pictures of the car, check these out:
Sort of looks like that "Smart Car" I saw in the UK.
Yeah, it does. Smart car has bigger wheels though, and a lot more built into the design. And a lot more expensive.
While you're probably right about the Nano v Peterbuilt smackdown, please keep in mind that this is a step UP in safety considering that this is an example of
what many of the likely customers are moving *from*:
FIVE ON A SCOOTER! :eek:
lol - thanks for the pics link - I had been meaning to get that posted for a few days and rushed it last night.
That's got to be the mother-in-law on the back.
By the way if anyone does have a $2500-3000 car around the Philly area, let Jacquelita buy it for her son.