10 Jan 2008
Unveiled: Tata Nano cheapest ever new car
Ratan Tata, boss of Indian conglomerate Tata, had vowed some time ago to release a “1-lakh” car, essentially a car that costs 100,000 Indian rupees, or US$2,500. That translates to Dhs 9,350 for a new car, and it has just been launched in India as I speak, as the Tata Nano.
The rear-wheel-drive Tata Nano has a 2-cylinder 624-cc petrol engine with 33 hp, offering 4.17 litres per 100 km of fuel consumption. It will also have a 30-litre fuel tank and four-speed manual gearbox.
The car will have front disc and rear drum brakes. We understand that air-conditioning and power steering will cost extra. Maybe even side-mirrors.
The “1-lakh” is also announced as the dealer price, so the actual price on the road is speculated to be around 117,000 rupees or US$3000, before options are added. It is being touted as a “people’s car,” reminding us of the early days of VW Beetle and Ford Model T.
The Nano also supposedly meets European safety and emissions regulations, although I see no space in it to add airbags. We imagine 33 hp isn’t the safest option on a highway either.
Lawsuits from Apple (iPod Nano anyone?) notwithstanding, this mass-production car is an interesting engineering feat at the opposite end of the scale of such pointless nonsense as the Bugatti Veyron. Although whether it is more appealing than a nice used car remains to be seen.
by cb, on January 10 2008 @ 5:21 pm
one of the ways to bring the population of india down
by cb, on January 10 2008 @ 5:26 pm
and this cheap shit is a more interesting engineering feat than a bugatti veyron?
by thatsit(mohamad), on January 10 2008 @ 8:57 pm
imagine with the price of the bugatti
how many cars you can buy from this model????? 
by Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury, on January 10 2008 @ 9:41 pm
What’s with you, cb? Your country built the damn thing. Your kids will be driving this once you get deported.
by thatsit(mohamad), on January 10 2008 @ 10:06 pm
loooooool
by sam, on January 10 2008 @ 11:22 pm
will this outrun a maruti 800?
more traffic on the streets as the folks who could only afford a 2 wheeler might be able to buy this 4 wheeler
by cb, on January 10 2008 @ 11:46 pm
well atleast we have cars and not donkeys and buffalos moving us around
by vishal, on January 11 2008 @ 11:42 am
TATA nano cheapest car on earth think now if you have enough money to buy a koieinsegg CCXR GT you can buy 10000’s Of TATA nano and thousands of daewoo matiz and chevrolet spark
by Manegar Abrar, on January 11 2008 @ 11:18 pm
What is instalment of price Tata Nano per month, i we book when it is avaiable?
by thatsit(mohamad), on January 12 2008 @ 2:13 am
for how many years 5 or 4 or maybe 6 years??????????
not more than 200 per month
by vivek, on January 12 2008 @ 6:04 pm
well..are the Tata’s aiming for the Bajaj Re rickshaw market???
nywayz…good work TATA!
by sb_zakon, on January 12 2008 @ 8:27 pm
It’s nice for a student like me to have one of this things ! Better than the bus!
kako i da e top e kolata!
by Sierra, on January 12 2008 @ 11:09 pm
seriously the inside looks very cheap like a car from the 40’s and might break after a month!
by cool cat, on January 13 2008 @ 12:06 am
imagine wt’ll happen if it hits a truck…
by Kumar, on January 16 2008 @ 5:18 pm
How wonderful life is, now TATA NANO in the world!!!!!!!
by jacky, on December 7 2008 @ 12:22 pm
by BJD(Boris), on December 7 2008 @ 3:44 pm
In UAE? well Mr Tata said Nano will hit international markets 3 years after its launched in India… Not a long wait is it? maybe he should have said after 10-30 years.
by BJD(Boris), on December 7 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Mash, your article mentions a 4 speed manual but I heard its got a CVT.
by B.Bader, on December 7 2008 @ 3:49 pm
I have always preferred purchasing a new car rather than a more luxurious used one, but this thing is an exception.
by Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury, on December 7 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Boris, that is what the dimwits at Gulfnews/Wheels published wrongly. I remember it.