Geneva '08 Preview: 78 MPG Nano hits Europe within four years

We got our first official look at Tata's Nano in January (and a very good unofficial look in December). Tata's Nano will make its international debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show but when will it go on sale in Europe? According to reports, Europe may have to wait up to four years for the cars to arrive. Meanwhile, Indians will be able to get a hold of the world's cheapest car the second half of this year.
According to Reuters, Girish Wagh, head of compact car projects at Tata Motors, told German magazine Focus, that Europe would get second-gen Nanos. "We will develop a successor model in four years time, which will meet the Euro 5 emission regulations and the crash standards in Europe," Wagh said. European safety upgrades, which should include air bags because India does not mandate them, will add an unknown amount to the $2,500 car. Second-gen Nanos are also expected to get 78 MPG.
Gallery: Tata Nano: The People's Car
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
brn 1:45PM (3/01/2008)
We'll probably release a car in several years that likely won't be much like our current (unsafe, high emissions, etc) car. Even though our current car's claim to fame is it's price, the price of this future car is a huge unknown.
Sign me up!
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Silver 7:31PM (2/29/2008)
When will the TATA come to Canada?
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chanda 8:53PM (2/29/2008)
Wow! Indians are very lucky to be the first one to get hold of this cool ride, considering their economic status; its very practical and definitely the cheapest one! I believe it would take 4 to 5 years before it hit various dealerships in Canada and U.S. I'm getting thrilled and i can't wait to check out this car and probably buy one. Nowadays, it's hard to maintain cars, its too costly. I have a Cadillac and it takes a lot of bread to get spare parts like Cadillac fuel injectors (http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/shop_parts/fuel_injector/cadillac.html) and oil filters. In our world today, we need fuel-efficient, cheap and eco-friendly vehicles to cope up with our lifestyle. Can't wait to get a NANO!
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mattypape, uk 6:51AM (3/02/2008)
78mpg, i doubt that with a petrol engine, but if there replacing it with a diesel then its more realistic but still a bit to optomistic in my view.
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Jerry Z 3:09PM (3/03/2008)
The stated 78mpg was with a two cylinder petrol motor, if memory serves me correct. You can get that type of mileage out of a gasoline engine so long as the rest of the car equates to an acceptable power-to-weight ratio and has a low drag coefficient. The only downside to the Nano is it is still a gross pollution device. Although they may not be as inexpensive as the Nano (and even if it does come to the US it's highly unlikely we will ever see anything close to the claimed $2,500 price tag), the Zap Xebra (http://www.zapworld.com) is a great alternative and is electric, so no pollution at all.
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Bru 10:08PM (3/23/2009)
And to think, America put an electric car on the moon in 1969! Why aren't we driving electric cars today?
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Bru 10:13PM (3/23/2009)
These cars will sell like hotcakes where ever they can be sold as people just can't afford the expense of gas anymore. Now that everyone has had a taste of high gas prices, finally, they are going to do something about the automobile industry that has been forcing these gas guzzlers down our throats for 50 years now. And to think, America put an electric car on the moon in 1969! Why aren't we driving affordable electric cars today?
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