Tata Nano

We told you a few days back that the Nano is going to be available directly off the shelf without the need for a prior booking. However, the car may not cost the same anymore. This is because Tata Motors seems to be contemplating a price hike for the Nano. If incorporated, the hike will range between Rs. 5000 to Rs. 15,000 depending on the variant. This comes in as no surprise, since Tata, during the launch of the Nano, had hinted towards a probable price hike once they deliver the initial one lakh orders. With the deliveries of these bookings likely to be completed by July end, the Nano may boast of a higher sticker price in order to increase the earnings for the component manufacturers.
The Nano was undoubtedly a challenge for the OE industry which the succeeded in achieving but it barely gives them any margins. As Tata puts it, ‘though the vehicle manufacturer manages its cash flow well, its the supply chain that takes a big hit’. Also add to this the fact that the raw material prices have gone up yet again, forcing most carmakers to hike their pricetags for the fourth time this year! In fact, Maruti Suzuki, Ford Motor India, Toyota Kirloskar and Mahindra & Mahindra are all set to announce a price hike for their vehicles in the coming week.
So you see, the common man’s vegetables like onions and potatoes are not the only ones going through a price hike, its the common man’s car that will face the brunt too. Probably Tata should indeed chop off the Nano’s roof to save metal costs and launch a cheap convertible version of the Nano.

Nano EV revealed in Geneva Motor Show

The world’s cheapest car is now on its venture to become the world’s cheapest and greenest car. The Electric version of the Tata Nano was revealed by Tata Motors at the Geneva Motor Show. Cosmetically, the Nano EV will carry the skin of the regular Nano. But within the skin will be an electrically driven heart that can easily accelerate from stand still to 100 kmph in just 10 seconds. The battery run motor when fully charged can commute an entire range of about 160 km.

Present at the launch were Mr. Ravi Kant (Vice Chairman), Prakash Telang (Managing Director – India Operations) and Carl-Peter Forster (Group CEO). Mr. Ravi Kant stated, ‘Electrification will be an integral part of our initiative to launch environment-friendly vehicles. The Indica Vista EV will be introduced in select European countries, beginning this year. We will progressively introduce electric vehicles in all relevant markets.’
 
Earlier, when the Tata Nano was introduced, it helped the economically backward to afford a car. After this, the Tata Nano EV will now help keep the environment green. In a country like ours with a high rate of rise in pollution, a car like the Tata Nano EV would prove to be a gift to the environment. So let’s sit back and hope that the Nano EV makes its to our good old Indian streets.


Images: India Automotive

Undisguised - Tata Aria Spotted Near Pune

One of motoroids regular readers sent this scoop shots of the Tata Aria doing its final testing rounds while being completely undisguised. Though we have already seen the MUV in flesh at the 2010 Auto Expo, we hadn't seen the vehicle running on road in its final production form. As per our friend who caught the Aria on cam, the vehicle was extremely quiet even when doing speeds of 130 km/h! On a few bumps in the road surface on the Pune-Mumbai highway, the vehicle seemed to have quite a significant bounciness / body roll. Later the vehicle pulled over to a roadside hotel, where the reader further followed it. As per his observations, even at idle RPM, there is hardly any diesel clatter as compared to the similar engined Safari DICOR.

According to other sources closer to the development of the Aria, the vehicle is in its final component-testing phase before it goes on sale in March. We are expecting the Aria to be priced between the Xylo and the Innova with the top end model slightly crossing the Rs. 10-lakh mark.
 
 

Nano Europa Details Revealed

What you see here in the photos is the comprehensively spruced-up version of the world’s cheapest car the Tata Nano. The Indian spec Nano is far too basic for developed markets like Europe. Hence Tata will give it a bunch of upgrades before its expected debut in 2011. Judging by the fact that maximum demand for Nano in India has been for the top end variant, Tata will most probably launch it in the home market as well.

The Europa is expected to retail for a base price of £4000 (Rs. 3.2 lakh) and upwards in the UK. It will be powered by a 60 bhp, 1-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine coupled to a 5 speed manual gearbox. It will feature an all-steel body, an all-independent rear suspension, ABS, traction control, electric power steering and twin airbags, to make it compliant with Europe’s stringent safety norms. The Europa might also get a rear door hatch to take care of the practicality issues. Back home, it will go head on against age-old rivals like the Alto, the Santro and the Spark. Stay tuned for more details…

Hybrid Nano on the anvil

Tata Motors had earlier revealed plans of introducing a diesel engine option for prospective buyer's of the world's cheapest car. It has now emerged that the manufacturer is also planning to develop a hybrid engine for the Nano! The highest official of the Tata Group gave a quote to the Maeil Business (a South Korean newspaper).



According to Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group, the automobile arm of the group is planning to produce a hybrid version of the the Nano to join in the environment friendly trend. He also said that low priced goods would create stronger demand than high end products in India, and the so called low price revolution would continue across the world.

When it comes to doing something good for the environment, we understand the need to have a herd mentality which is on the positive side. We sincerely hope that Tata sorts out its internal automobile quality issues first before launching another technology under the Nano brand. Well, a hybrid Nano going up in flames at a traffic stop owing to faulty (read poor quality) parts wont do the environment much good!

Production of Nano to commence at Sanand in fourth quarter

The upcoming Nano factory in Gujarat will begin the trial production in the fourth quarter of this financial year, Tata Motors announced on Tuesday.

The company had decided to move its factory site for the Nano at Sanand near Ahemdabad, following the Singur fiasco in West Bengal last year, where protests over land acquisition emerged super headed by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Mr. PM Teland, India MD for Tata Motors said that the full scale production at Sanand could begin in six to eight months. The company plans to set up an initial production capacity of around 2.5 lakh units, which can be further infused to 5 lakh units. He further mentioned that the current production site for the Nano at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, was producing around 3000- 4000 units per month.

The company had moved to Sanand in October last year where it will set up a mother plant for the small car, apart from vendor park, on an area of about 1100 acres.

Tatas Omni Challenge : Ace Van

For the past two and a half decades, Maruti's little van, the Omni has been the only 'really cheap' mode of transporting 6-7 people around in our country. Rivals have come and gone, but thanks to their optimistic price-tags, none of them have been able to make a dent into the popularity of the 'lil Omni.

Even though the demand for the other Maruti, the 800 has dropped from 20,000 units (per month) to just 2500 these days, the Omni remains popular as ever with steady sales of 8,000+ examples.

Tata wants a piece of this pie, and have it, it will with its Super hit, Ace-based Van that you see here in the pics. The re-worked grille and tail-light do give it an upmarket air compared to the utilitarian Ace. Interiors too seem to be more than a match for the Omni. The chassis and power train will be carried over from the Ace albeit with modifications, as it will no longer be expected to haul its usual 1 tonne legal + 1 tonne illegal cargo. So modification to the suspension to improve its ride quality and to the gearing for improving the drivability must have been on the cards.

Expected launch: March 2010.
Expected Price: Rs. 3.25 Lakh (on-Road).

Tata Motors developing electric powered Indica

Tata Motors has annouced that it is currently working on developing an electric powered Indica along with a Norweigan firm. The electric Indica will be first launched in the European market around 2011. Tata Motors have not confirmed if its electric powered B segment car will be launched in India when its ready. The manufacturer has revealed that it will be conducting a feasibility study before launching its electric Indica in the country. One must not forget that price is an important deciding factor in car buying decisions for majority of Indians.

According to Prakash Telang, Managing Director for India operations, Tata Motors, the company has not started the feasability study for India and will do so at a time when its product is close to being ready. He said that the company will have to look into the cost equation and market demand in India as it will be an expensive vehicle.

The electric Indica was first showcased in 2008 at the then Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers convocation. It was also displayed at this year's Geneva Auto show.

Tata Nano to be tweaked further!

The Tata Nano has very rightfully earned its title as the world’s most cheapest/affordable car. But however, after certain feedback received by Tata Motors, the firm has announced its plans to further tune or tweak the Nano. The tuning will be done within six months with an intention to improve the performance offered by the car.

Presently, the car has a rev limit up to 5000rpm which will be raised to 6000rpm to facilitate better acceleration, especially in the first two gears. The car may also feature a new five-speed gearbox. But however, this feature will not be introduced in India. The reason behind this is that Tata Motors does not want to increase the electronically limited top speed of 105kmph. The company has cited safety reasons for the move. A Tata Motors engineer stated, “With a top speed of 105kph, five gear ratios are unnecessary and could result in excessive gear changing for the driver.”

The car will feature a modified outside rear view mirror (ORVM) assembly. The assembly is ready to be introduced but needs ARAI approval. The car presently features an ORVM which has to be adjusted by the movement of the entire unit. The new design will make the job easier. The new ORVM can be adjusted from within the housing itself (only mirror movements). The new design will be further upgraded to feature electrically powered mirrors. The car will also feature a check-strap to limit the door opening.

The Tata Nano presently lacks a tail-gate that can be opened. Due to this, the luggage area can only be accessed only from within the car by folding the rear seat. The car will soon feature a new tail-gate that will not have visible hinges. This will keep up the smoothness of the shape of the Nano.

200 Nano's to get DC touch!

The name Dilip Chhabria is well known among all self-respecting automobile enthusiasts in the country. To the uninitiated, he is the man behind DC Design Private Limited.

In a career spanning for over 16 years Dilip Chhabria has modified a variety of cars across all segments starting from the humble Maruti 800, Tata Indica, Mahindra Scorpio, Honda Accord Mercedes S class and beyond. He has also designed his version of the good old Amby with a Rollys-Royce rivaling interior features costing around Rs.4 crores. Lately the world’s cheapest car has caught his fancy!

Dilip Chhabria will be redesigning the exteriors of only 200 Nano’s for interested owners. He said that a brand name for the vehicle is yet to be finalized. He revealed that a waiting list of prospective clients has already piled up. Getting their Nano re-designed by DC will cost owners around Rs.80,000. The interiors of the car will remain untouched.

Nano's on Fire!

About 3 customers have so far complained about fire in their Nano's. The fault is so far reported on a switch which could be faulty. On all 3 occassions it is reported that the owners were not injured and also the cars were idle. Is it time to buy a Nano yet! These initial technical snags and faults are a usual case in every cars launch. However, our suggestion is to wait for another year before getting your hands on it.

Tata launches Indigo Manza

Tata today launched the latest sedan from its stable named "Indigo Manza". The car comes with a load of features which are not available in most upmarket sedans. It comes with features such as Bluetooth, Laptop chargers, Mobile phone charger and even more.


Prices are said to start from 4.8 Lakhs for the base version. It will compete with other sedans in the segment such as Ford Fiesta and Honda City.

The car gives a lot of value for your money and a feature rich car with a stable engine and body kit always wins in the segment. We will have to wait to see how Manza fairs in this segment.

40 Land Rovers Recalled on Safety Concern

Tata owned JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) has recalled 40 land rovers in India on safety concerns over the vehicles manufactured between 2005 and 2007.