Tata Nano
Geneva served as the European launch for the Tata Nano, which at $2500 is the world's cheapest car. This Indian-built car is also one of the world's smallest, measuring just 118.5 in. long, 59.1 in. tall and 63.0 in. wide. It also looks alarmingly similar to R&T's own Cyclops, but that's another story (see R&T, May 2008, Ampersand). It has four seats, but no door for access to trunk space.
The Nano is powered by a 623-cc 2-cylinder engine placed at the rear of the car, driving the rear wheels. Power? Well, we're not sure if 33 horsepower actually falls into the definition of "power." The Nano is clearly designed as a city car, its top speed just 60 mph. But then, it also gets 47 mpg.
The Nano will hit the market in October, with a production target of 350,000 cars per year. While initially the Nano will be available only with its 3-cylinder gasoline engine, a diesel version will follow later.
It's interesting to note that the Nano is causing a bit of a stir in its native India (where it's called a "One lakh car," which is 100,000 rupees), because though it will replace motorbikes for many of India's poorer folk, the downside is that with more people being able to afford cars, city traffic problems are bound to get even worse.
We'll be traveling to India later this year to find out just what it's like to drive the cheapest car in the world.
