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==Rear mounted engine==
==Rear mounted engine==
The use of a rear mounted engine to help maximise interior space makes the Nano similar to the original [[Fiat 500]], another technically innovative 'people's car'. A concept vehicle similar in styling to the Nano but with frontwheel drive was proposed by the UK [[Rover Group]] in the 1990s to succeed the original Mini but was not put into production <ref>
The use of a rear mounted engine to help maximise interior space makes the Nano similar to the original [[Fiat 500]], another technically innovative 'people's car'. A concept vehicle similar in styling to the Nano, also with rear engined layout was proposed by the UK [[Rover Group]] in the 1990s to succeed the original Mini but was not put into production <ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/r50storyf.htm |title=Rover Mini 'Spiritual' project |accessdate=2008-01-13 |work=austin-rover.co.uk}}</ref>. The now-defunct Rover Group later based their [[City Rover]] on the [[Tata Indica]] while the eventual 'new Mini' was the much larger, technically conservative [[Mini (BMW)]].
{{cite web |url=http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/r50storyf.htm |title=Rover Mini 'Spiritual' project |accessdate=2008-01-13 |work=austin-rover.co.uk}}</ref>. The now-defunct Rover Group later based their [[City Rover]] on the [[Tata Indica]] while the eventual 'new Mini' was the much larger, technically conservative [[Mini (BMW)]].


Revision as of 03:52, 4 February 2008

Template:Future automobile

Tata Nano
Tata Nano ‎
Overview
ManufacturerTata Motors
Also calledThe People's Car
Production2008–present
DesignerI.DE.A Institute
Body and chassis
ClassCity car
Body style4-door Kei
LayoutRR layout
Powertrain
Engine2 cylinder petrol Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 623 cc (38 cu in)
Transmission4 speed synchromesh with overdrive in 4th
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,230 mm (87.8 in)
Length3,100 mm (10.2 ft)[1]
Width1,500 mm (4.9 ft)[1]
Height1,600 mm (5.2 ft)[1]
Chronology
Predecessornone

The Tata Nano is a city car launched by India's Tata Motors at the 9th annual Auto Expo on January 10, 2008 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India.[2] Tagged as the people’s car in Tata's promotional material, it is projected to be the least expensive production car in the world.[3] The standard version of the Nano (without air conditioning, radio or power steering) is projected to cost Rs 100,000 (not including levies such as VAT/LT/FCIT, transport and delivery charges) (US$2500, GB£1277, €1700),[4].[5] The choice of price has led to the Nano being called the one lakh car (after the Indian numbering term, meaning '100,000').[6]

History and conception

The project to create a 1 lakh rupee car began in 2003, under the Chairman of Tata Motors, Ratan Tata. [7] The strategy behind the project was the awareness of the number of Indian families who had two wheeled transport, but couldn't afford a four wheel car,[8] and was based on the company's success in producing the low cost 4 wheeled Ace truck in May 2005.[7]

Industry convention was that a reliable car couldn't be made at such a low price, so initial media speculation was that the car would be a simple four-wheeled auto rickshaw. However, The Times of India reports that the vehicle is "a properly designed and built car".[9] The Chairman is reported to have said, "It is not a car with plastic curtains or no roof -- it's a real car." [7]

During development the company reinvented and minimized the manufacturing process, brought in innovative product design, and asked component manufacturers to look at current work and design approaches in a different perspective to produce logical and simple solutions. [9]

The car was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering, with Ratan Tata ordering certain changes during the process, such as reducing the number of windscreen wipers from two to one. [7]

Interiors and exteriors

File:Tata Nanoo .jpg
The interior of the Nano

The Nano has 21% more interior space and an 8% smaller exterior, when compared with its closest rival, the Maruti 800. The car will come in different versions, including one standard and two deluxe variants. The deluxe version will have air conditioning, but no power steering. The car is expected to be produced in the Singur plant in West Bengal, which is under construction. The initial production target set by Tata Motors is 250,000 units per year.

Rear mounted engine

The use of a rear mounted engine to help maximise interior space makes the Nano similar to the original Fiat 500, another technically innovative 'people's car'. A concept vehicle similar in styling to the Nano, also with rear engined layout was proposed by the UK Rover Group in the 1990s to succeed the original Mini but was not put into production [10]. The now-defunct Rover Group later based their City Rover on the Tata Indica while the eventual 'new Mini' was the much larger, technically conservative Mini (BMW).

Technical specifications

According to Tata Group's Chairman Ratan Tata, the Nano is a Template:Auto PS car with a 623 cc rear engine and rear wheel drive, and has a fuel economy of 4.55 L/100 km (21.97 km/L, 51.7 mpg (US), 62 mpg (UK)) under city road conditions, and 3.85 L/100 km on highways (25.97 km/L, 61.1 mpg (US), 73.3 mpg (UK)). It is the first time a two-cylinder non-opposed petrol engine will be used in a car with a single balancer shaft.[11] Tata Motors has reportedly filed multiple patents related to the innovations in the design of Nano, with powertrain design alone having 34 patents.[12] The head of Tata Motors' Engineering Research Centre, Girish Wagh has been credited with being one of the brains behind Nano's design.[12][13]

According to Tata, the Nano complies with Bharat Stage-III and Euro-IV emission standards.[14]

Side view of the Nano

Powertrain

Performance (Manufacturer Claims)

  • Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)[1]

Body and dimensions

Rear of Tata Nano in Yellow
Red Tata Nano : Standard Model

Suspension, tires and brakes

  • Front track: 1,325 mm (52.2 in)
  • Rear track: 1,315 mm (51.8 in)

Controversies

Mass motorization and climate change

As the Nano was conceived and designed around introducing the automobile to a sector of the population who are currently using eco-friendly bicycles and motorcycles, environmentalists are concerned that its extraordinarily low price might lead to mass motorization in countries like India and therefore possibly aggravate pollution and global warming as well as increase the demand for oil[19]. Rajendra Pachauri, an Indian and chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said he was "having nightmares" because of this car and added that the car represents bankruptcy of India's environmental policy. The ecology focused German newspaper die tageszeitung feels that such concerns are "inappropriate" as the Tata Nano has lower emissions compared to the average Volkswagen, and that developing countries shouldn't be denied the right to motorized mobility when industrialized countries should be looking to reduce their emissions and usage of cars.[20] Die Welt reports that the car conforms with environmental protection, and will have the lowest emissions in India.[21] In crowded metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Ratan Tata has conceived a scheme to only offer the Nano to those individuals who do not have an automobile already. The Nano will also replace many overloaded and worn-out two-stroke polluting vehicles, both two and three-wheeled.

Singur car factory land dispute

Controversies also arose about Tata's planned manufacturing unit for the car in Singur, West Bengal, where the regional government of West Bengal has allocated 997 acres (4.03 km2) to Tata Motors. The construction of the car factory on that tract of land will require fertile agricultural land and the expropriation and eviction of ca. 15,000 peasants and agricultural workers. The affected farmers fear they will receive inadequate or no compensation and therefore lose their livelihoods.[22]

Activists near Kolkata, where Tata's manufacturing unit is located, started burning the car in effigy.[23] In New Delhi, women protested wearing T-shirts bearing slogans that said, "The Rs 1 lakh car has Singur people's blood on it." [24] The Trinamool Congress alleged that Tata motors usurped the agrarian land for the construction site and have threatened to stall the manufacture of the car.[25] The 11 cases were dismissed.


See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Specifications of Tata's Nano". indiatimes.com. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  2. ^ Mohanty, Mrituinjoy (2008-01-10). "Why criticising the 1-Lakh car is wrong". Rediff News. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  3. ^ "Tata Nano - world's cheapest new car is unveiled in India". driving.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  4. ^ "First Look: Ratan Tata unveils Nano". IBN. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  5. ^ "Tata unveils Nano, its $2,500 car". MSN. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Tatas' unveil Rs 1-lakh car".
  7. ^ a b c d "The Next People Car". Yahoo Finance. 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "1 lakh car drives 1 billion dreams". Indian Express. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b "All eyes on Tatas' Rs 1 lakh car". Times of India. 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Rover Mini 'Spiritual' project". austin-rover.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  11. ^ "Tata Nano, Unveiled!". Gawker Media. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  12. ^ a b "It's a car, not an apology". Times of India. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-11. Cite error: The named reference "EngDesign" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ "The Next Peoples' Car". Forbes. 2007-04-16.
  14. ^ "Ratan Tata unveils Rs 1-lakh 'Nano'". expressindia.com. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  15. ^ "Tata Motors unveils the People's Car". tatamotors.com. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  16. ^ Ruth David (January 10, 2008). "Tata Unveils The Nano, Its $2,500 Car". Forbes.com.
  17. ^ "Here what Tata's Rs 1-lakh car - the Nano - looks like!". Rediff News. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  18. ^ "India's £1,250 car". autoexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  19. ^ http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/Issues.aspx?Energy-Stocks-for-200-a-Barrel-Oil-3
  20. ^ Der Spiegel Online: India Delivers World's Cheapest Car
  21. ^ http://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article1536886/Tata_Nano__der_indische_Volkswagen.html
  22. ^ Food First Information & Action Network: India: Right to food of 15,000 peasants threatened by a car manufacturing unit of Tata Motors
  23. ^ "Fiery protest over Tata's Nano". CNet News. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  24. ^ "Singur protesters show up at launch, raise slogans". Times of India. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  25. ^ "Trinamool Congress threatens to stall manufacture of Tata's Nano unless Tata distributed 100,000 Nanos for free". Indian Express. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
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