Indian cars Archives - The Weekly Driver

Report from India: New hybrid cars coming soon

SPONSORED CONTENT Hybrid cars, vehicles using multiple means of propulsion like a diesel engine or a petrol engine paired with an electric engine, minimize the carbon footprint. And hybrid cars are being popularized increasingly by the Indian government. Hybrid cars are economically and environmentally friendly. Some of these cars are on the road, while a few haven’t debuted. Here’s a look at the pending new hybrid cars in India. Skoda Superb Plug-In Hybrid The Skoda Superb Plug-In Hybrid is among the cars soon available in the Indian marketplace. The Skoda Superb Plug-in Hybrid will make its debut in 2019 and is a much-anticipated upcoming car in India. It’s believed the vehicle will derive its power from the 1.4-litre, turbocharged petrol engine,

Tata Nano, world's cheapest car, debuting in the United States in 2015?

The Tata Nano changed the automotive industry three years ago when the minimalist machine debuted in India as the world’s cheapest car with a price of about $2,500. Now, the manufacturer’s CEO believes the Nano could be sold in the United States within three years and would be the cheapest cars sold in the country. “The U.S. is a very enticing market,” said Ratan Tata, CEO of India’s Tata Group in an recent interview with Automotive News. “We hope that the sub-$10,000 car has appeal.”The current Nano is a four-seater with a 32 horsepower and 624-cc, 2-cylinder engine mounted in the rear. To compete in the U.S., the Nano would have to be amended meet American standards including adding power

Sport Utility Vehicles

India's Force Motors debuts Force One Sport Utility Vehicle

Force Motors, formerly known as Bajaj Tempo Ltd., has launched its Force One, the company’s first sport utility vehicle. The term Force One is reminiscent of India’s indigenous Formula One team. But it’s not related. Rather, the new SUV is built exclusively for Indian roads. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines

Automotive News

Tata Motors unveils new Manza with Easter-themed colors

Tata Motors has debuted the latest version of its Manza sedan, equipped with a unique color pattern, a range of new features, a starting price of less than $12,000 and available throughout India. The Safire petrol version is priced at $11,275 and and the Quadrajet diesel edition is $11,866. Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company with nearly six million vehicles in in circulation in the country, including the Tata Nano — the world’s cheapest car. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury

Economy cars

Tata Motors revamps strategy for struggling cheap car Nano

The Tata Nano, overtly published and praised in 2009 when it debut in limited locations in India as the world’s cheapest car, is now facing a different reputation — and an uncertain future. Lottery luck was originally needed to purchase a Nano, the most well-known original vehicle of Tata Motors. But sales are now slow for the $2,200 car, likely prompted by two reasons. First, several Nano models have caught fire since April 2009 via exhaust or electrical systems issues. Nicknamed “the people’s car,” the Nano has also had increased competition from sightly more expensive cars like the General Motors India and top-selling Maruti Suzuki. Neither are viewed yet like the Nano as a “poor man’s car.” India is the

Specialty cars

Tata Motors plans 'luxury' Nano Plus for 2011

The Nano, predicted to be available in 2011, with feature a 1,000 cc engine instead of the 623 cc engine of the current Nano model. It will also include ABS brakes, alloy wheels, and integrated music system and an improved interior. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars Tata hopes the Nano Plus, for which reservations recently began, will compete with the Maruti Alto and Chevrolet Spark, but its price has not been announced. Tata Motor is also expected to fix the safety problems that caused numerous 2010 Nano models from catching fire. The Nano is projected to come in at the No. 2 spot in 2011 after Tata raises production. According

Electric and Hybrid, Specialty cars

Tata Motors may soon produce world's cheapest hybrid

Tata Motors has garnered global attention via the Nano, the world's cheapest car. It could be awhile, but Tata could surpass its current high plateau of notoriety if it follows up on a recent announcement the Indian manufacturer will produced the world's cheapest hybrid vehicle.

Economy cars

Tata Motor's Nano (You Tube debut video)

After much anticipation, reservations for the Tata Nano, the India-manufactured car some automobile experts believe will be as influential as the Model T Ford and the Volkswagen Beetle, will be available for March 23 in more than 400 dealerships in India. The Nano, billed as the world’s cheapest car and nicknamed “The People’s Car,” will cost an estimated $1,945 or 100,00 rupees, the currency of India. According to Tata Motors representatives, full production of the Nano will take 1 1/2 years and only a limited supply of the vehicle will be available this spring. Ratan Tata, who conceived the car, said a European version of the Nano meeting all European emission and safety standards will be available in 2001. It