Tata Nano EV Launched @ Geneva

  Image courtesy - AutoExpress

Tata, yesterday, launched the Nano EV – the electric, battery operated version of the Nano at the Geneva Motor Show. This Nano is primarily aimed at the European Market and as of now, the company has no Nano EV plans for India.

According to AutoCarIndia, “The compact electric motor and battery pack has been neatly packaged without compromising on the cars functionality”

The Nano will use the same lithium super polymer batteries as the Indica, which will allow it to reach 37mph from rest in a rather sedate 10 seconds. However, this allows the Nano to travel 99 miles on a single eight-hour charge.

The price hasn’t been disclosed, but the company says that the EV will be very ‘price conscious’.

The New 2010 Tata Safari gets BS IV Compliant

Image Courtesy – GlobalMotors.Net

The Tata Safari in its latest 2010 avatar has been made BS IV compliant.

There've also been slight tweaks in both the Exterior/Interior Department.

• The exterior enhancements include chrome plated grill and chrome plated ORVMs.
• The interiors have completely been refreshed in a dual dark graphite and beige theme with tan-coloured leather upholstery and door inserts, a new instrument cluster and faux wood in the centre console.

The top of the line Safari already comes with ABS, dual airbags, reverse guide system and DVD/MP3 system with dual LCD screens. The Safari range comprises of four variants in 4×2 and 4×4 Drives.

Tata Nano Hybrid/Diesel to be Showcased at Delhi Auto Expo 2010 ?

One of the things about the Tata Nano that is constantly put under criticism is the amount of pollution it can potentially cause. But what if instead of being a Gas-Burning Nano, it is a Green E-Nano?. That’s what the Tata’s are thinking right now.

Acc to Sources, Tata Motors have confirmed that they’re working on the hybrid Nano and a Diesel Variant of the Nano could be expected in Near Future. Work is also being done on a Half-Tonne Pick-Up Truck avatar of the Nano.

Lots of Flavors of the Nano, Huh? Lets see how this Shapes Up in the Future.

Tata Indigo Manza to be launched on 14th October

Tata Motors is all set to launch the next generation Indigo which has been named the Indigo Manza on 14th October in Mumbai. The Indigo Manza is based on the extended Indica Vista platform and promises spacious interiors, even more refinement and a huge boot.

Features

• Better Boot
• Good Value for Money (VFM)
• Projector Headlamps
• Steering mounted controls
• Intrument Console shifted to front of the driver
• Better trimmings and fabric quality

Engine / Power / Price
Indigo Manza will be available in 2 engine options

• Petrol - 1.4 L 16 Valve DOHC (95 bhp)
• Diesel - 1.3 L Multijet (90 bhp)

The price range of the Indigo Mazda lies between 5.5 - 7.5 Lakhs

Spy Pic – Tata Xenon TL Single Cab Pickup Spotted on Pune Expressway

Tata’s new Single cab pickup - Xenon, which is currently undergoing testing, was spotted on the Pune bypass road. The ‘car’ was doing speeds in excess of 100kph with its loading area filled with cans.

At present, Tata Motors sells the dual cab version of the cab - Xenon XT in India. Tata had displayed the single cab version at the Delhi Auto Expo last year.

[via IndianAutosBlog]

Coming Soon : Tata Indica Vista Ignis 1.4 Petrol with Advanced Safety Features!

Tata will soon be launching a new variant of the Indica Vista – the Indica Vista Ignis. Ignis would be the 4th Indica Vista variant in the lineup after Aqua, Terra and the Aura.

The Safire Engine in the Indica Vista Vignis

It will be having 95 PS 1.4 Litre Safire petrol engine (which also powers the Fiat Grande Punto) This will be a welcome move by Tata because earlier, many Potential Buyers of the Indica Vista rejected the option because of the smallish 1.2 Litre Engine. According to the sources, the new Indica Vista Ignis will have a mileage of about 16.5 kmpl.

Apart from the Engine, there are many new features in the Ignis which will attract the buyers in this Segment –>

Safety

• Two airbags - one each for the front passenger and the driver
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Interiors and Dashboard

Interiors

• Reworked Dashboard with a svelte music system which also has Bluetooth connectivity - as ushered by the call answer and reject buttons as well as a USB port
• Better Interiors (Abundance of Black)
• Newly designed Steering Wheel to accommodate the airbag and steering mounted controls for the audio system.
• Electrically Adjustable Rear View Mirrors

Electronic Mirror Controls

Exteriors

• Keyless Entry
• Chunky 175/65 R14 Goodyear GT3 Tyres
• ABS badge, probably a badge indicating engine capacity and the 'Ignis' badge on the sides.

Price

The Vista Ignis is Expected to be Priced between Rs 4.5 to 5.0 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

Jaguar XJ Brake Pipes Issue – JLR Recalls Cars for Repairs

      A 2006 Jaguar XJ

Tata-owned British luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover has recalled certain Jaguar XJ models to rectify issues related to brake pipes.

Acc to a JLR Spokesperson

"This recall is being carried out to rectify an issue with the abrasion of corrosion protection on under floor brake pipes through contact with a sound deadening pad on 2003/4 Model Year XJ vehicles"

This is a proactive step taken to maintain Jaguar's steady improvement in quality and demonstrates the company's commitment to quality and the customer.

There is no cost to the customer and there have been no reported accidents as a result of the issue”

According to the official, there are no cars in India which are part of the recall.

Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover from US auto maker Ford Motor for about USD 2.3 billion last year.

Tata in cost cutting mode, JLR to go aluminium

Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover is thinking over building all its future cars with light weight aluminium bodies to reduce input costs as the two British marquees are trying hard to come out of the more than Rs 1,700 crore loss in 2008-09.

The 2010 Jaguar XFR

The two iconic brands are also developing hybrid engines for use in future models of JLR.

In its Annual Report for 2008-09, Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata said,

JLR is planning to have all its future cars constructed with light weight aluminum bodies resulting in considerable savings in weight, and reduction in CO2 emissions.

The main challenge in JLR will be to sustain operations through this difficult period arising from the global financial meltdown. There is good reason to believe that the company's new products and more aggressive marketing will see the company through this period”

Ferrari coming soon to India courtesy Tata, Fiat

Italian auto giant Fiat and Tata Motors are under discussions for a joint marketing project to sell Ferraris and Maseratis in India 

Mr Tata, who is also a Fiat director, told Italian daily La Stampa the two were studying further cooperation to add to existing projects such as a partnership to produce engines in India.

“We have various projects, to take the Nano to Latin America together, to share platforms for new cars, we have projects for (Fiat lorry unit) Iveco and marketing Ferraris and Maseratis,” in India Mr Tata said. “We are talking about a lot of things.”

  The Maserati (above) and Ferrari

Both Ferrari and Maserati brands are under Fiat’s control.

Tata Motors is also present in the luxury car business, having acquired the British brands Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 billion from the US automaker Ford last year.

Fiat SpA, Tata Motors to sell Nano in Latin America

Italian carmaker Fiat SpA and Tata Motors Ltd intend to sell Tata's ultra-low-cost Nano model jointly in Latin America, Ratan Tata said in an interview to a newspaper on Thursday.

The Tata Nano

Tata, who is also a Fiat director, told the newspaper the two were studying further cooperation to add to existing projects such as a partnership to produce engines in India.

"We have various projects, to take the Nano to Latin America together, to share platforms for new cars, we have projects for (Fiat lorry unit) Iveco and also for us to sell Ferrari and Maserati," Tata said.

"We are talking about a lot of things."

The first Nano, the world's cheapest car, was delivered this month. Tata said the car's production run for the next two years is already sold.

The Nano is being sold in India for 100,000 rupees ($2,053) excluding taxes.

The Nano passed the European "crash test" safety standard on Friday, allowing it to be sold in the Europe market and a launch is foreseen at the end of 2011, Tata said.

Brazil is Fiat's second-biggest market after Italy.

Delhi HC: Nano will worsen the Traffic Problem

The much-acclaimed low-cost car Nano, which recently hit the roads, could worsen road traffic by adding to the growth of private vehicles in the coming days, a Delhi High Court Judge on Monday said.

Acc to Justice Kailash Gambhir,

"All Indian cities are already struggling with traffic flow problem due to various types of vehicles on the road, lack of need-based road and traffic design and engineering and the unchecked growth of private vehicles and with the entry of the new cheap car Nano on the road, the situation is likely to get worsen"

The Court made the remarks while delivering its verdict in the BMW hit-and-run case involving Sanjeev Nanda in which his sentence was reduced to two years from five years for mowing down six persons ten years ago.

The Court also pulled up the Centre for its "apathy" towards public safety on roads and made a slew of recommendations for road safety.

The court said,

"There are no stop signs, no speed limits and as heavy vehicles go zig-zak on the roads, it is hard to ignore the disturbing reality that many commercial and private drivers are drunk and no one checks them"

[Source-PTI]

Tata Motors threatens to scrap Electric Indica Vista Launch in UK

Tata Motors has threatened to scrap its plan to launch Vista electric cars in the UK if it does not receive a 10 million pounds loan from the British government soon

    Tata's Electric Indica Vista

In April, Tata Motors registered its expression of interest to apply for the 10 million pounds loan to help launch the Vista electric vehicle, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motors Show this year, and build an assembly line for it in the UK.

But last Tuesday, the company was told that it will take another eight weeks for the business department to decide whether it had met the necessary criteria and can be considered for the loan

The report said executives of Tata Motors will meet Ian Lucas MP, who oversees the 2.3-billion pounds car assistance package, and deliver a petition signed by senior managers from Tata Motors' R&D centre, TMETC, based at Warwick University, which helped design the car.

No money has been released by the government from its 2.3 billion pounds package, which it unveiled in January. The package is made up of loan guarantees and loans for car makers wanting to invest in fuel efficient technologies 

Nissan was granted 400 million Euros loan by the European Investment Bank in April and the government is understood to be close to agreeing to underwrite it.

Tata Motors' Norwegian subsidiary, Miljo, has already been awarded a 6-million pounds loan and a 1-million pounds grant from the Norwegian government for electric cars.

The firm secured a 340 million Euros (292 m pounds) loan from the European Investment Bank in April but this needs to be guaranteed by the government and the two sides still cannot reach agreement on the conditions.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of trade body SMMT, said:

"Ministers... want to make sure the public purse is protected.? But when you're talking about a company the size of Tata, it shouldn't be a concern ? Officials are spending an awful lot of time creating conditions and scenarios which will not come to pass."

He said ministers were being over-cautious because they wanted to avoid a repeat of the MG Rover fiasco, when the government granted a 6m pounds loan to the carmaker months before it collapsed.

A Department for Business Innovation and Skills spokesman said:

"It is important to understand that this scheme is about long-term investment projects, rather than short-term rescue? We have to work at the pace demanded by the companies and also have to consider the best interests of the taxpayer."

Gedi Junction’s Reaction –> The people following Tata Nano project must be knowing that before Nano’s current manufacturing unit, it was to be manufactured at Singur in West Bengal. But after the protests, Ratan Tata issued a similar threatening statement that if protests did not stop, they’d move out of Singur and they did. So, I guess the British Govt. should take this threat seriously.