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’.

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.

Pics - Tata Nano - "Europa Abarth" Concept

This is the Tata Nano - Europa Abarth Concept which was created by Theophiluschin.

Nano Europa Abarth has a pair of fully LED studded head lights with modified bumpers.The protruding alloy wheels remind of the alloy wheels clad Maruti Zen of the earlier days

The rear bumper has got a set of exhausts which further adds to the sport image of Nano Europa Abarth. Abarth Scorpion logos in front bonnet and tail doors make it complete a dream car.

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]

Man loses Nano keys just after getting them by Ratan Tata

Ashish Balakrishnan's dream came true and then almost turned into a nightmare Friday evening. He now owns a Nano car but has lost its keys!

Ashish Balakrishnan, the second customer of the Nano

At a gala ceremony Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata handed over the keys of the second Nano car to the 29-year-old bachelor who then said: "There are three things in life which one cherishes - to own a house, buy a car and start a family. For me, the second dream is coming through."

And then he lost the keys.

Tata Motors will hand over a duplicate set to Balakrishnan on Saturday. His cousin will drive out the car.

A business manager with HDFC Bank, Balakrishnan had opted for direct full payment for his vehicle. "I hope I can now settle down with a family soon," he said with a smile.

Tata Nano hits the roads Today!

The common man’s car is set to reach the common man. After overcoming obstacles like rising commodity prices and political opposition etc.

Ratan Tata will finally hand over the keys of the Nano—his dream project—to its first owner here on Friday.

Though the identity of the first Nano buyer is not known , he or she is likely to be the quintessential ‘man on the street’ , with ordinary aspirations . In all likelihood he or she has even taken a loan for the prize catch.

The defining moment—for Tata Motors, the buyer and the global auto industry—will be held at the company’s showroom in Prabhadevi.

The rollout, which begins on Friday , will prove to be the litmus test for the much-awaited car’s on-road performance.
Tata Motors, through a lottery , selected one lakh customers out of the 2.06 lakh applicants who had booked the snub-nosed car. While a significant number of people opted for a loan, the top-end LX model has been the most sought after.

Beginning Friday, the first one lakh cars would be delivered in a phased manner by the last quarter of 2010. The first one lakh owners are price-protected and will get the Nano at the ex-showroom price of Rs 1 lakh.