05 Mar 08
Indian manufacturer Tata is planning to bring its ultra-cheap Nano to Europe, and is suggesting a starting price of around €1,700 pre-VAT and delivery costs.
The rear-wheel-drive Nano has a 30bhp 625cc Bosch engine and four-speed manual gearbox, and is stripped down to the bare essentials: no power steering, no electric windows, no airbags, no air conditioning. There will be more expensive 'deluxe' versions, however. It is just over 3m long and 1.5m wide, can just about seat five and is said to be capable of 60mph.
Undercutting the Maruti-Suzuki 800, the Nano is to be the cheapest car on sale in India by a good margin; it's aimed at first-time car buyers, many trading up from motorcycles, and exports are also being considered to Africa, Latin America and south-east Asia.
The Nano could sell for £1,300-odd in the UK, but it may not come: there is not thought to be much of a market for such a vehicle here. And in truth, it looks like the cheap car that it is; fussy British buyers will not be terribly impressed.
Tata's new-generation Indica supermini is also unlikely to make it to Britain (though a few earlier examples found homes here, badged as the CityRover, prior to MG Rover's demise). The latest model comes with Indian-built Fiat engines: 1.2 and 1.4 petrols, plus a version of the excellent Fiat 1.3 direct-injection diesel. Tata is planning exports.
Other Tata models on display include the Safari 4x4, now with 2.2-litre, Euro 4-compliant diesel engine, and the related Xenon pick-up truck. These are sold in selected European countries, though may be more widely-distributed when new-generation versions arrive next year.
Check out the rest of our Geneva Motor Show coverage.
