Would you guys ever drive something like this?

I'd have to say, No.

Too Small (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_on_bi_ge/india_ultracheap_car)

If I lived in India and that was the only thing I could afford, sure, why not? Beats the hell out of walking.

Never say never. You might not see cars like that out in the open country, but in the urban centers it would be fairly popular with folks who need a cheap way to get around.

I think I got one of those in the spare rack on my 2500 Silverado. I'll go check:)

Here is the target market they are after,

The Geo Metro was probably twice that size, could go faster with the A/C on, and got the same mileage, if not better.

Thats not a car is a coffin.

Didn't TATA just buy Jaguar from Ford. Might start seeing alot of those when gas is $6/gal. It'll can double as a coffin. If that thing has a headon with an SUV or P/U they'll never be able to dig the person out.

Come see the all new Tata, available at fine hooters restaurants nationwide!

Total it ten minutes after you buy it, and the insurance company writes you a check for $5.29.

Here is the target market they are after,

And they say real men don't wear potection...


No A/C and radio... Sounds like the next vintage soap box racer... Oh wait it is a soap box...

Would you guys ever drive something like this?


Heck, yeah! I'd actually buy two, one for each foot. Then park them under my desk when I get to the office.

I like tatas. :D

think of that thing with a small block!

I would drive one but just for intown driving. no highways!!!!!!!!!!

I would still rather have one of these

http://www.flytheroad.com/

Id say you could kiss your "Tata" goodbye if you were hit by anything larger than a K car!

I don't get it ........ the original Honda 600 cars were along that line ...... :confused:
but I don't remember how much they sold for .....

the $2500 Tata Nano. Won't be available in the US, at least not now, but it ought to insure oil prices never go down by making an auto available to a billion plus people who previously didn't own one.

I used to drive a Chevelle, but now I have a Tata.:D

From The Times
January 11, 2008

India unveils the little runabout that's cheap at twice the price - the Tata Nano


http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00264/tata1_185x360_264513a.jpg
(Money Sharma/EPA)

A team of 500 people worked on creating the Nano - Tata aims to prove that India can compete on the world market as an innovative car maker

Ashling O'Connor in Delhi

It is 3 metres long, seats four comfortably or five at a squeeze, does 65mph and aims to revolutionise travel for millions. The “People’s Car” is also the cheapest in the world at 100,000 rupees (£1,300) – the same price as the DVD player in a Lexus.
The Nano, from Tata, the Indian conglomerate bidding for Jaguar and Land Rover, was unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo yesterday to music from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ratan Tata, the company chairman, harked back to the first flight by the Wright Brothers and the Moon landing as he revealed the cute, snub-nosed hatchback that will allow millions in India’s emerging middle classes to buy a car for the first time.
“I hope this changes the way people travel in rural India. We are a country of a billion and most are denied connectivity,” he said. “This is a car that is affordable and provides all-weather transport for the family.”
The aluminium shell contains a rear-mounted 33bhp two-cylinder petrol engine and weighs about half a tonne. The standard version comes with the vital features: brakes, a four-gear manual transmission, seatbelts, locking, wind-down windows and a steering wheel. A small boot could store a duffel bag. It lacks a passenger-side mirror and has one windscreen wiper. The deluxe version will have air-conditioning while extras such as a radio and an airbag could be added.
The car is the culmination of five years’ research and input from across the world, including Italy and Germany. But it was designed and made in India, defying expectations that a company best known for its elephantine lorries could manufacture a cutting-edge passenger product.
Hormazd Sorbajee, editor of Autocar India, said: “As a concept it’s brilliant. It’s spacious and promises to be fuel efficient.”
A team of 500 engineers worked on the car, to be produced at a plant in West Bengal. In an effort to allay fears that something so cheap could not be safe, Mr Tata said that it had passed a full-frontal crash test in India and was designed to sustain further impact testing under European standards.
Tata cut costs by minimising components, particularly steel, and taking advantage of India’s low production costs. Because of its size, it uses less sheet metal, has a smaller and lighter engine than other cars, smaller tube-less tyres and a no-frills interior. The company has applied for 34 patents to cover its innovations. “We shrunk it, made the engine smaller and used fewer materials but we haven’t taken any shortcuts in term of safety or emissions,” Mr Tata said.
The car will be sold first in India from the second half of this year, with an initial annual production run of 250,000, but it is expected to be made available in Latin America, SouthEast Asia and Africa. It could find its way to Europe in a few years but enhancements to meet higher standards would raise the price considerably.
The Nano, at its most basic, is roughly half the price of the cheapest car available today. China’s QQ3Y Chery and India’s Maruti 800 are both about £2,550. The idea of millions of Nanos on the road alarms environmentalists. Rajendra Pachauri, the chief UN climate scientist, said last month that he was “having nightmares” about it.
Green campaigners point to India’s terrible road system and rising pollution levels. “Even if they claim it will be fuel efficient, the sheer numbers will undermine this,” Vivek Chattopadhyaya, an air pollution specialist at the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, said. “India’s infrastructure doesn’t have the capacity.” The centre estimates that the five million vehicles on Delhi roads today meet only a fifth of the capital’s transport needs. Most people travel by bus but could be convinced to buy a car at such a low price. Delhi, where air pollution levels are more than twice the safe limit, is already registering 1,000 new vehicles a day. As more cars hit the road, the average speed at peak times has fallen to 7mph, which should at least ease concerns about safety in case of accidents.
Shekhar Mehta, 27, from Ahmeda-bad, said: “It looks like a good city drive. The body doesn’t look too safe but it’s better than an autorickshaw.”
As Greenpeace activists outside the show held banners demanding “Cut CO2 emissions”, Mr Tata dismissed environmental concerns. He said that his car, which does 50 miles to the gallon, would conform to all emission standards in India and Europe. “We need to think of our masses. Should they be denied the right to an individual form of transport?” he asked.
This for £1,300 . . .
Top speed 65mph
Engine rear-mounted 623cc, 33bhp multipoint fuel injection engine
Transmission continuous variable transmission
Fuel consumption 50mpg
Body sheet metal with crumple zones
Extras air conditioning and airbag optional. No radio, no power steering, one windscreen wiper

Body sheet metal with crumple zones


Do they even have to design that into a car that size? Doesn't it happen automatically?
:)

I'm going to guess it weighs about 2500 lbs. Which means it should theoretically run the 1/4 mile in about 24 seconds. :)

That thing looks like it was made out of an old barbecue grill.Oh, Sorry I just saw where it's made. Not much grillin goin on over there.

Looks like a 1 seater for me.....which makes it kind of useless. Does is have a receiver.. maybe I could tow the kids behind it... at 15 mph

if they were to bring it to the US, they'd have to add about 500 pounds to it to make it big enough for our fat asses, and no one (except maybe PDQ and a few thousand hard core environMENATALists) would buy a car with- gasp- roll up windows, let alone no AC or radio.

Looks like a wheel borrow.. or the tires are the same size as a wheel borrow...I guarantee they wont bring that car over to the states, UAW wont let it happen. I bet if they did manage to get dealerships over here it would sell like crazy @ $2500.00 a peice drive it for 1 year and buy a new one.
http://jalopnik.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2008/01/medium_2182957986_742d14a8ca_o.jpg

Now we won't have to worry about PETA when we decide to go Cow (Tata) tipping!!!!! :D :D :D

My John Deere yard tractor has almost that much horsepower. Of course, it only seats one, and has no crumple zones, but then, I paid a little less.......

Well they are not a small company thats for sure:

About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of US $ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina. The company already distributes Fiat branded cars in India. Tata Motors' international footprint includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pick-up vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the U.K., and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.

Would you guys ever drive something like this?

I'd have to say, No.

Too Small (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_on_bi_ge/india_ultracheap_car)


NEW DELHI - For millions of people in the developing world, Tata Motors' new $2,500 four-door subcompact — the world's cheapest car — may yield a transportation revolution as big as Henry Ford's Model T.


I suppose if you lived in India, and you made an Indians wage, your attitude toward driving this little car might just be a little different. It doesn't look much worse than any of the crap pod cars being sold in America today.



Rocky

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207348

Thats not a car is a coffin.

Yeah for $2500 they probably forgot about bumpers, collision bars in the doors and don't even think about air bags unless you count the pregnant goat in the back seat.

We had a 1990 Turbo Sprint. We put over 180,000 miles on it. It was comfortable, surprisingly quick, and surprisingly roomy front and back. It averaged around 46mpg US. Granted it cost a lot more, but it makes this Indian car look like a piece of junk at any price. I think that your legs would be a large part of the crumple zone. I'll pass.

Another Yugo. :rolleyes:

Mike

I it was brought here the price would be eight times higher trying to meet US Govt. required emissions and safety and other federal BS.

I can't see the mower deck in that picture.

That will never pass safety requirements in this country.

I wonder, if India could make something like that, What could AMERICANS do,if they wanted too?

Here is the target market they are after,

The dad has a helmet. but not the kids?:confused::noway:

How long do you think it would last in India. Watch this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEzlB90b5p4

Um....let's see: I'm 6'6", therby I would not fit...my daily driver is a 91 Suburban, and honestly I'd rather sit in one of those in a crash than this itty bitty tin can of a car, besides I don't think the Tata would survive the climate up here (5ft snow, -59F)

I can't see it being able to climb our ship channel bridge or most overpasses here.

ok for in town I guess

I wonder, if India could make something like that, What could AMERICANS do,if they wanted too?

No way they can build a car that cheap, the cost of providing health care for union employees adds from $1,100 to $1,500 to the cost of each of the 4.65 million vehicles GM sold last year per car in the US .

that does not include the cost of any metal, parts, labor, etc etc etc. Just insurance costs, and that was in 2005 it has to be significantly higher today.

Actaully, we might see those cars. With the new MPG mandate coming soon GM, Ford and Chrysler might have to package them with their trucks, vettes, mustangs and new challenger (hopefully new Camaro) so they can say their cars make the avg mpg they're supposed to. :)

Here is the target market they are after,

lmao... go to India or SE Asia and that is a VERY common sight.

I mean YES, the car is very ugly but you have to understand the people and lifestyle it's meant for. Most of India is highly populated and dense so so a small cars that are affordable for the common man is definitely a good thing. Heck it might reduce pollution and exposure to sun for those people rather than sittin in the baking sun on motorcyles which is waht 70% of the trasport is there. So what if it's ugly, it might just change their economy for the better. my 2c;)

If i lived in india i would drive that everyhwere, and save my chevelle for sunday cruises, i would drive one in america for sure!!! if someone wants to race i'll take them to my garage, heheh

Hey, you gotta do at you gotta do to save gas money to cruise in the Chevelle during the summer, right?

I rented a Yugo up at Port Angeles, WA when I was at the Paper Mill up there years ago and it was a fine, altho, old-fashion designed little cheap corn-popper!

And I 'd buy a Tata in a New York Minute if I could.

I'd change out the wheel bearings for better, higher speed, jobbers and gently drive her into the ground commuting 65 to 70 miles a day back and forth to work as I laugh at the Banks and the Gas Stations!!

You know, I guess I like spending the saved gas money on other things I like better than on gasoline is all!!!

pdq67

PS., and fwiw, I REALLY want a brand new 1987 Chevy Sprint ER 3-banger, 5-speed hatch, el-cheapo stripper like I bought new back then for $6,300, but now I'd GLADLY give $10,750 for it!!

50+ mpg running 70 mph ALL DAY LONG for YEARS AND YEARS!! It was THAT GOOD A CAR!!

And right, a 1987 to about 1990 Suzuki Turbo Sprint was one heck of a little-bitty SK-8 Board of a car back then!!

will a small block fit in it?

with that lil thing I wonder how many passes I can get outta one nitrous bottle fill?

Fwiw, I have an old mag w/ an article in it about an '87 or so Sprint ER w/ a front installed 350/TH350 and a bigger narrowed rearend in and under it!!

pdq67

i would be tempted to see if i could drive by that thing really fast and see if i could blow it away.

but yes my waife wants one of those if ever it makes it this side of the pond. but i told her if it does it will probably be atleast double in price as they would have to severly modify it to meet us safety and emission standards (i did not pay attention to the news to see if it did meet the standards)

The SMARTCAR should be here about August, I think, but, right, sucker will probably cost $16 or $18,000!!

Not good at all.

They sell the little sucker down around $9 or $10,000 and I'd bite IF it get's the gas mileage something this small should get!

And I'm talking about above 60 mpg!!

pdq67

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/01/10/nano-tata.html

Looks craptastic.

Here's the assembly line.

Seats 5 ?

Looks like a phone booth on lawn mower wheels.

Thanks, but I'll ride my bike.

I think I would rather walk.

I had a soap box derby car that was safer than that!

It needs a picture of Apu from the Simpsons painted the sides along with "quickie racing" lettered on it. ;)

"This car can be had for very little rupees"

Seats 5 ?

Looks like a phone booth on lawn mower wheels.

Thanks, but I'll ride my bike.

Three (or more) on top, or hang on the back.