The People’s Car Is Here!!!
The most eagerly awaited car in the Indian Automobile industry will soon hit the roads. Bookings opened for the Tata Nano on the 23rd of March 2009. Initially, there will be just 1 lakh Nanos made available. In order to book a Nano, all you would need to do is to fill up a booking form, which would cost Rs 300 to Rs 500. And, the amount of booking would be 70% to 80% of the car value. Out of the (expectedly) huge number of bookings, a lucky few would be randomly selected for ownership of the first lot of Nanos. The rest have an option of either cancelling their booking or waiting until they would be delivered their Nanos.
Nano LX
What made the Nano hit the headlines much, much before it’s launch was the fact that it would cost just 1 lakh rupees (about $2,500) to own one. It would, thus, be the cheapest car in the world. Therefore, the car made huge appeal to the common-man. With the launch of this one-lakh car, He can now have a car for the transportation needs of his family rather than cramping into a two-wheeler. Funnily enough, this car would thus be competing not just with other cars in the market, but with the two-wheelers as well. Mr. Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Motors, had announced at the launch of the Nano in January 2008 that the car would be available for 1 lakh rupees, but during this 1 year period, material prices have gone up by about 23%. In spite of that, the base version of the Nano is available for about 1,23,000 Rs, which isn’t too far-off what was promised. Even the top-end LX version is priced much lower than the M800.
This cute, little, bubble-shaped car is a little over 10 feet long and nearly 5 feet wide. It is claimed to be 8 percent smaller in exterior size and 23 percent larger in interior space in comparison to the Maruti 800; the car that was until now considered to be the “people’s car”(priced at 1,84,641 Rupees). The Nano is powered by a 623 cc, two cylinder engine, located at the back of the car. The opening to the engine is through the rear bumper. A unique aspect of it’s design is the fact that it’s four wheels are at the absolute corners of the car to improve its handling. The car has a length of 3099mm, width of 1495mm and a height of 1652mm. It has a roomy passenger compartment, with adequate leg space and head-room. This is made possible due to the fact that the cabin space of the car constitutes it’s very length.
Other unique features of the Nano include 12-inch wheels, which has 3 nuts instead of the normally found 4. The front
The Dashboard Interior
tyres are thinner when compared to the rear. This is so designed to provide the car better stability. The spare tyre provided is of the thinner type. However, this can be used at the rear as well in case of an emergency. Also, the car has a single wiper, located at the centre. The speedometer and odometer are mounted at the centre of the dashboard(already found in the Chevrolet Spark). And another thing that’s centrally placed is the exhaust.
Tata does not offer a power-steering for the Nano (not even in the high-end LX version) because the engineers at Tata Motors felt that it would be unnecessary for this light car. There is a storage space at the back, which is accessible only by folding out the rear seats. So, the Nano is not a hatchback to the true sense of the word, as it doesn’t have a fifth door which can be opened.
The maximum power of this new Tata engine is 34.55 Bhp @ 5250 rpm. The transmission is a 4-speed, with overdrive in 4th gear. The car hits a top speed of about 100kmph, at which a warning light flashes on the meter console. The car has disc brakes at the front and drum at the rear. And the mileage offered by the Nano is simply awesome, at 26kmpl on the highways and 22 kmpl in the cities.
VEHICLE SUMMARY(Nano Base Version)
Name : Nano
Car Body Type : Hatchback
Segment : A Segment
Top Speed : 105
0 to 60 : 8.00
0 to 100 : 12.60
Fuel Consumption : Highway – 26.00 kmpl.
Fuel Consumption : City – 22.00 kmpl.
Warranty : 18 Months or 24,000 kms
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement : 624cc, Rear Mounted, MPFi
Engine Type : Petrol
Maximum Power : 34.55 Bhp @ 5250 rpm
Maximum Torque : 48 Nm @ 3000 rpm
DIMENSIONS
Length : 3099 mm
Width : 1495 mm
Height : 1652 mm
OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Seating Capacity : 4
Tyre Size : 135/70 R12 – 155/65 R12
Suspension : Independent McPherson Struts, Coil Springs
Turning Circle : 4.00 mtrs.
Boot Space : 130.00 ltrs.
Steering : No Power Steering
Brakes : Front Disk, Rear Drum
Gears : 4 Manual
Ground Clearance : 180.00 mm
Kerb Weight : 600.00 kgs.
Fuel Tank : 15.00
Body Color Bumpers : False
Tachometer : False
Alloys : False
ORVM Indicator : False
Xenon Headlamps : False
Headlamp Washer : False
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
AC : False
Power Windows : False
Central Locking : None
Remote Boot : False
Remote Fuel Filler : False
Rear Wiper : False
Rear Defogger : False
Rear Armrest : False
Steering Adjustment(Rake/Reach) : False/False
Driver Seat Adjustment : Manual
Music System : No
Leather Seats : False
Door Mirror : Driver Side
Tinted Glass : False
Rear AC Vent : False
Folding Rear Seats : True
Sun Roof : False
Buttons/Controls on Steering : False
Auto Viper : False
Auto Headlamp : False
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
Airbag : False
Parking Sensors : False
Fog Lamp : False
Traction Control : False
EBD : False
ABS : False
ESP : False
Nano Base Version
The initial pickup and acceleration is on the lower side as the 0-60 time suggests. Also, the fact that the base version doesn’t have an AC is a big minus considering the extremely hot Indian summer. But, whatever be the little disadvantages that it has, Indians are proud of this car and three2tango members being proud Indians, are no exceptions. The car is expected to boost the Indian Economy as well as expand the Indian car market by 65%, according to rating agency CRISIL. Thus, the Indian Economy is expected to remain strong and grow in 2009 and beyond, despite the temporary financial turmoil in the US, because the car may lead to a boost in other sectors of the Indian Economy besides the auto-market. Comparisons are already being made to Henry Ford’s Model T that was built around a hundred years ago. Ford wanted to make a car for the multitude, not the elite. This is exactly what Ratan Tata has tried to do for the Indians. Also, there are plans at making a European version of the Nano, called the Nano Europa, which would have all the luxury features. The Tatas are also working on an electric-engine. They could thus, have the cheapest electric car rolling out of their stables very soon.
There are fears that the cost-cutting could be done at the expense of safety. The Tatas however, claim that the Nano exceeds all the current safety requirements. It has safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages. It’s body is made with sheet metal and it has a strong passenger compartment. Also, there are protests from the environmentalists and green peace activists that, with the expectedly huge number of cars that will be on the (already-congested) roads, there will be huge levels of pollution. The car, however, meets the emission norms as well. Another section claims that the increased number of cars on the roads would lead to heavier traffic jams on the cramped roads of India.
Whatever be the criticisms thrown at the Nano, there is no denying the fact that it is an innovative and revolutionary design. And that it has thrown open an entirely new segment in the car market. Summing up in Mr. Ratan Tata’s own words, “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,” Mr. Tata added. “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.”
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seen the europa version.. awesom.. wud love to buy that one..
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