Monday
Mar232009
March 23, 2009 Light traveler's dream car
The new $1979 Tata Nano is really light: 600kg. Of course for the moment you must live in India to buy one. This reviewer likes it. No word on whether Tom Bihn is going make a bag to keep it in - for those who don’t have a garage.
Update on March 23, 2009 by
Frank@OBOW
Frank@OBOW
“A slightly bigger European version, the Nano Europa is due to follow in 2011, and is expected to cost nearer to £4,000.” - BBC
Reader Comments (2)
It's also a nightmare when you think of the millions of these that can find themselves on the road burning up more fossil fuel than ever.
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/worlds-cheapest-car-boon-or-bane/
The Nano is coming to the US in about three years and should go on sale in Europe in 2011. The Indian Nano got a higher spec makeover after the price of steel went down. The top speed is now 60 mph and the hubs, suspension and brakes were all upgraded.
The Euro Nano was shown in Geneva with a new four-seater electric car, the Indica Vista, that will go on sale in Europe next year. It uses lithium ion batteries, has a range of 120 miles and does 0-60 in less than 10 seconds. The Euro and US Nanos are likely to be launched as flex-fuel cars in keeping with Tata Motors' commitment to alternative energy.
The Nano shares its engine management system with Ferrari F1 cars because Tata produces the automotive software for the Ferrari racing team. Many of Europe's famous racing names contributed to the Nano's development so it will almost certainly be raced.