Tata Nano Car Review , Faetures and Photos (The worlds Cheapest Car)

Length: 3.1 m
Width: 1.5 m
Height: 1.6 m
To seat: 4
Engine: 643cc, 2-cylinder, all-aluminum
Power: 33 BHP
Position: Engine, battery at rear end
Boot: In front
Fuel: Petrol
Fuel injection: MPFI
Fuel consumption: 20 kmpl
AC: Only in deluxe version
Music system: No
Passenger side mirror: No
Power steering: No
ABS/airbags: No
Price: $2500 at dealer + VAT + transport cost. Base version approximate on-road price: $3000
Tyres: Tubeless tyres
Body: All-steel
Safety features: Crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, 2 A-Pillars
Suspension: Independent front and rear
Measurements of the Nano

• 3.1 metre length
• 1.5 metre width
• 1.6 metre height

The car will have a two-cylinder 624-cc petrol engine with 33 bhp of power. It will also have a 30-litre fuel tank and four-speed manual gearshift. The car will come with air conditioning in the deluxe version, but will have no power steering.

But yes, it is a real car. Production is expected to be 250,000 units in the first year. Despite the puny 33 bhp engine, it has acceleration and speed comparable to the existing people's car of India, the approx US $ 5000 Maruti 800.

I know, that's pathetic power by American and Western standards. But Indian maximum legal speeds are way lower than them - and Tata Motors anyway claims that the car is as fast as the Maruti 800, India's original People's Car that changed things a couple decades back. And there are a million or more of them on the streets of India already.

The car will have front disk and rear drum brakes. The company claims mileage of 22 kmpl in city and 26 kmpl on highway.

The $ 2500 is the dealer price - the actual price on the road might be approx Rs $3000.

Environmental impact

In India, a car like this can crowd the streets, forcing the government to improve infrastructure - and as the evolution of the Western industrial society demonstrates, affordable cars can be a major force for change.

But till that happens, this is a car that can seriously crowd the streets - and make life a bit tougher in the short-term.

The car would be commercially launched in the second half of 2008 and would be produced at the Singur plant in West Bengal.

The car launched is being avidly watched by the auto industry around the world.


Safety

Passes crash tests. Side impact test yet to be done, but Tata is confident about it. It has 2 A-pillars on one side to better meet safety norms.

No airbags. Airbags are still not a required feature in India.

But you have crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seatbelts and anchorages.

A four wheeler is safe than a scooter. So to begin with, the huge two wheeler population of India gains a safety benefit. But will it pass the safety requirements of a large car or even a high technology compact? Unlikely. But that is not the objective - it is to improve the safety of four-member families like this one that rides scooters and at risk every day.