REPORT: Tata may add diesel engine and three-door version to the Nano
Tata Nano - Click above for a high res image gallery
After 203,000 firm orders, Indian automaker Tata found out that most buyers had opted for the more expensive variants of the Nano: only 20 percent of orders have been placed for the base model. The consequence is that Tata is considering a new strategy for the Nano, introducing new variants to make it even more attractive for the local market. One of the most important features will be the introduction of a new 0.8-liter diesel engine, developed by German company FEV. A three-door version of the Nano, an idea that was originally rejected, is also in the works. Plans for the European versions are, so far, unchanged, but will surely benefit from the diesel variant.
Gallery: Tata Nano
[Source: Autoblog en Español]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
alexacoon 8:09PM (5/30/2009)
It might still look too tall with those tiny wheels but with three doors (and tossing the rear seats) I would seriously consider one for under 10K
I sadly doubt we will ever see one in the US
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xmdfmk7x 8:16PM (5/30/2009)
You'd consider driving that pile of crap if it sold for less than $10,000 in the US? I could probably compile a list of 50 cars you could buy used in good shape for $10K or less that would be better than that turd in EVERY way possible.
alexacoon 10:01PM (5/30/2009)
Frankly I don't know much about the quality of this vehicle and I would be interested to hear how it compares to other known vehicles where it is sold; unless I see it from reliable sources I'm not going to fall for it being called a piece of crap just because "everything" from ____ is.
I would imagine a diesel nano would get well over 50 if not 60mpg with the commute I have so exactly how could any used car better the 30+mpg i get now enough to be worthwhile?
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Brian P 9:46AM (5/31/2009)
This vehicle in its present form has absolutely no hope of meeting North American crash safety standards, so don't hold your breath for it to be sold here, and modifying it to meet the crash standards would add length and weight and COST. And, the aerodynamics don't seem to be all that great. The claimed fuel consumption is not all that special (and by the way, the gasoline version of the "smart" is not all that special, either).
If what you are looking for is a $10,000 car that gets better than 30 mpg US, that is very easy. Any manual-transmission (no automatic in the Tata, by the way) Hyundai Accent, Toyota Echo, Kia Rio, etc will do that. So will any manual-transmission VW TDI diesel, although meeting your price target will require buying one that is a few years old (I sold my last one at 462,000 km, so this is not a problem).