Indian automaker, Tata, has been causing a MAJOR stir amongst automakers with talk of a small car that will retail for under $2500.00. For months now, there has been speculation about exactly how they will be able to produce a car that sells for so little. Well, the speculation ends today with the launch of one of 2008’s most anticipated vehicles, a car that looks set to play a significant part in automotive history - the Tata Nano.
Notwithstanding the Strauss-laden drama of the launch video above, the Nano is a very exciting little car. Let’s look at some of the details:
- Engine: 2 cylinder MPFi petrol (single injector) All aluminum 624 cc. Vertically aligned, rear mounted parallel twin
- Power: 24 kW @ 5500 rpm
- Torque: 48 Nm @ 2500 rpm
- 0-60 km/h: 21 seconds
- Max Speed:
70 km/Actually it’s 70 mph or 112km/h, thanks for the update SlyFly.
- Fuel Economy (combined): 5l/100km
- Euro-IV compliant
This car is the definition of bare bones - there is no radio, no air conditioner, no electric anything, no ABS, no power steering; although some of these features will be available on higher-specced models. Tata’s designers employed a fair amount of lateral thinking when it came to cutting costs - for a very interesting look at this design philosophy, check out this New York Times article.
The Nano’s ultra-low price is bound to have an effect on the greater motor manufacturing industry. Tata has shown how smart supply chain management and thrifty design choices can drastically reduce costs. These principles will likely be adopted by other automakers, not only with the aim of reducing vehicle prices, but also to increase profitability.
The Nano is not without controversy, especially amongst environmentalists - Tata aims to manufacture 250 000 Nanos in the first year of production alone. The environmental impact of a vehicle that makes four-wheeled transportation affordable to the hitherto-untapped market of less wealthy Indians can’t be ignored. Further, there is some concern that due to cost cutting measures, the durability of each Nano’s emissions control equipment might be questionable. In other words, even though a new Tata Nano is Euro-IV compliant, it may not remain Euro-IV compliant after a few thousand kilometres of driving.
On the other hand, a Nano seats four people and it’s much cleaner to run one Nano with four people inside than it is to run two very dirty-running 2-stroke scooters. Maybe by replacing scooters with Nanos on India’s roads there will be a net saving in emissions. Additionally, it seems that Tata will be licensing the Nano glider (a glider is a car body without the engine and drivetrain) to other small companies. This allows smaller companies with limited budgets to focus their resources on the development of powertrains only, so we should be seeing Nanos with alternate powertrains like electric and air motors in the near future (more on this at GreenCars tomorrow).
There’s no news just yet on whether the Nano will find its way to South Africa.
29 responses so far ↓
1 pickledbushman // Jan 10, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Nice article
I really hope this car comes to South Africa!
2 SlyFly // Jan 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Just need to update the max speed…
Its not 70 kmph more like 70 mph.
3 Richard Catto // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Top speed of 70km/h?
You’re not going to get busted for speeding in that car. LOL!
20 kms per litre is double what I currently get, so that would halve my fuel bill.
I’d take it for a test drive to see if I liked it.
4 vishnu shankar // Jan 10, 2008 at 7:54 pm
NO richardo the top speed is not 70km/h but its 70m/h…. Sono worries… But we got to see how good its going to be when it comes to indian roads….
5 Paul Cowie // Jan 11, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Well done Tata…nothing like covering the field from Jags and Landies to this little baby!
Car is giving it a 0 to 100 of 14.5…not bad for that tiiiiny little motor…as for the rest, she sounds about as basic as my Austin Apache!!
6 Belinda // Jan 14, 2008 at 9:53 am
Is it not possible to order one already?
Pretty Please let it come to South Africa!!
7 Mpho A.K.A Bozza // Jan 14, 2008 at 11:17 am
Man I don’t give a rats A$$ I will buy that car even if it kills,there is a lot of cars on our roads today with the same limited fitures as the Nano,it must difinately make it’s way to SA and I’ll be the First person to buy it,Q is there a waiting list or something?
8 Carl // Jan 14, 2008 at 11:50 am
Thanks for all the comments, everyone. I’m in touch with Tata at the moment, and will post some more concrete info as soon as I can.
9 Pragasen // Jan 14, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Will SA finance law approve low finance for this vehicle, below R35000 it would be difficult to get finance
10 Carl // Jan 14, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I’ve heard talk that it’s going to sell here for about R35k. From what I heard, the South African version will be slightly different to the Indian one and will feature better brakes etc.
Again, I’ll confirm details as soon as something concrete comes up.
11 Mxo // Jan 14, 2008 at 5:07 pm
When is it coming to SA, I can’t wait to have mine and I will encourage my Household Manager to buy one. She will definitely afford it.
12 PIETER SWART // Jan 15, 2008 at 8:06 am
WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE LAUNCH OF THE NANO IN SOUTH AFRICA.NICE LAYOUT AND CHEAP ENOUGH FOR THE AVERAGE SOUTH AFRICAN.PRETTY COOL
13 Latasha // Jan 15, 2008 at 9:20 am
I want mine in white and I would like the deluxe model so I will hang on a bit.
14 Candice // Jan 16, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I would like to find out the procedure with regards to purchase a Tata Nano Car please.
Thank you
15 Sandy & Willie // Jan 17, 2008 at 2:21 pm
WE WANT!!!!!!
When will it be in SA.
I read somewhere that it will take up to 2 years. Can this be true????
16 Jizzel // Jan 18, 2008 at 10:19 am
Please tell us when is this car coming to S.A. can’t wait so long.
17 Lee // Jan 19, 2008 at 12:16 pm
please let it come to SA. its the best small car i have ever seen and would realy want one…
xxxxxxx
18 Carl // Jan 19, 2008 at 12:48 pm
The bad news, people, is that we’ve got a 2-3 year wait before this comes to SA… IF it comes to SA.
19 Tammy // Jan 21, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Come on guys, there must be some way or another that we can speed up the process to get this car in S.A………Anything is possible, come on i mean gee there is so many people that want this car, so its definitly not going to go to waste!
Please keep us updated with what is happening, Thanx alot
20 Akesh // Jan 22, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hi i really want this car how can we go about getting one ?
21 Nicole // Jan 25, 2008 at 7:28 am
Hi, I would really like to have one these cars how can I find out how to go about getting one
22 FADHL // Jan 30, 2008 at 10:57 pm
COOL MAN!!!IT SIPERFLY WHEN WHEN WHEN!!!! I THINK IT CAN DO THE SAME AS MY GOLF ON THE ROBOT TO RBOT STROKE….BUT I CANT WAIT…IM DEFINATELY BUYING ME ONE NO PROBLEMS WHEN CAN YOU GET A NEW CAR LIKE THAT WITH LEKKA COOL CLEAN FINISHES JUST THROUGH IN YOU JVC WITH REMOTE AND BE COOL….R17700 -r20000 THATS COOL BUT WE PROBALY NEED TO BUDGET FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT HEY WE WILL STILL SAVE PETROL….AAAH!!!!
23 CHARLENE LAWRENCE // Jan 31, 2008 at 10:53 am
HI, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE CARS. ARE THEY IN SA YET AND WOULD THERE BE FINANCE AVALIBLE FOR THEM. HOW CAN I GET ONE.
THANK YOU.
24 Chris // Jan 31, 2008 at 11:13 am
Could you please add my name to your list. I am ordering one as soon as they arrive in SA!
Thanks
25 Delano du Toit // Feb 13, 2008 at 12:21 am
I currently own a ‘95 model 1300 Ford Lazer and a ‘95 Model Mitsubishi 2500 Diesel workhorse. If respected specs on fuel consumption is accurate, it would kick the rearend off of my current transportation.
Points of interest:
Why the big price variation? Converting the currency brings the price to the R17500 - R20000 mark. Why do we pay R35000, its double the price! They can’t tell me that a set of upgraded brackes makes that the price doubles. I can get allround discbrakes installed for a mere fraction of the price differance.
Something a group of us checked up on was the idea of importing a car from Japan or Australia that was built in South Africa. Take for example a A5 VW Golf. The equvelant model will cost you cheaper if you import your car, thats including your shipping and import tax bla bla bla. The car also underwent stricter quality checks therfor giving you a beter car for your money. Ask me, I spent allot of time on the lines listening to their cries of inferior stock the suppliers supply.
Good thing is that allot of the components will supplied by Bosch.
I believe that if Tata would be able to get this car here before the end of the year, they will see great sales. It would be a good boost to a young company like Tata.
So… My Nano my Nano, my buget for a Nano.
26 Aashish Jain // Feb 14, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I want to drive such types of cars becoz it’s a wonderful and charming car.
27 Aashish Jain // Feb 14, 2008 at 12:48 pm
It’s a compertable and cheaply car. Everybody can afford the price this car.
I think, now a days, everybode can travels in the car.
28 Gina Metelo-Liquito // Mar 10, 2008 at 2:38 pm
PLEASE PLEASE bring it to SA before 2009 - 2010!!! I would def buy one!! It must come here as soon as possible
29 yolanda // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:17 pm
i want this car for my 21st and my 21st is this year plz plz let me have it its sooooo cute!!!!!
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