Tata Nano

Tata Motors debuts exclusive new sports car Futuro

Tata Motors, the Indian carmaker that nine years ago introduced the world’s cheapest car, will debut its first sports car in the sub-brand TaMo (Tata Motors) at the Geneva International Motor Show. The new model, one of several new vehicles planned by the company that owns Jaguar and Land Rover, will be called the Futuro. It will feature a 1.2-liter, mid-engine turbocharged inline four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower. The two-seater will be unveiled in Switzerland as a concept. According to several media reports, the Tamo Futuro should be available in about 18 months. Its debut coincides with Tata’s decision to streamline its business, reducing its platforms from six to two. The 87th Geneva auto show will begin March 7. Only 250

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Luxury Tata Nano on the horizon for $3,578

Car buyers in India with a limited budget want to buy inexpensive cars that don’t look cheap. At least, that’s why the Tata Nano LX has been developed. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Tata Motors Ltd., India’s fourth-largest auto maker and the owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, will offer a luxury Tata Nano with chrome trim, hubcaps and a stereo. Tata’s original Nano, introduced in 2009, hasn’t sold as well as the carmaker expected. It originally cost the equivalent of about $2,000. Tata Motors has laid off many workers and reduced its production of the Nano. Tata currently sells around 2,500 Nanos per month, about 25 percent of the car’s peaks sales month in April,

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2015 Tato Nano coming to U.S.?

The Tata Nano, marketed in its debut a few years ago as the world’s cheapest car, could also become in 2015 the cheapest mass-produced car available in the United States. Tata hasn’t announced a price for the vehicle nor specific details of dealerships or the exact configuration of the second generation of the Nano that will sold in the United States. But the price will be less than $10,000, according to Ratan Nano, the manufacturer’s chairman. “The Smart and the Fiat 500 have high sticker prices, and people buy them because they are small cars,” Tata told Automotive News. “But everyone knows you put a lot of money into it. We hope that the sub-$10,000 car has appeal.” The Nissan

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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

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Tata Nano, 2012: World's cheapest car now luxury sub-compact

The Tata Nano has had a tumultuous four-year tenure. It was nicknamed the "World's Cheapest Car," soon after it debut in India. Its quality and reliability have been questioned, but it has also provided a lot transportation for commuters and families in India who otherwise wouldn't have a car. Now, the Tata Nano is going luxury. The 2012 Tata Nano offers an increase in horsepower, more standard features and improved economy — 59.7 mpg. The new Tata Nano features still has a .6-liter, rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive transmission. But it now has 50 horsepower, four horsepower more than the original. Torque has also increased from 35.4 ft-pounds to 37.0 ft-pounds. The improved mpg is more than four mpg better

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Tata has clear urban vision with Pixel concept debut

Tata Motors, which owns Jaguar Land Rover and manufactures the Nano (the world’s cheapest car), has rolled out its Pixel Concept urban car at the Geneva Motor Show. The Pixel is geared toward European and Asian markets where fuel is far pricier than in the U.S and urban streets are crowded. Tata says the Pixel is 10 feet long, “comfortably accommodates four adults.” Its doors open up, rather than out, to avoid cyclists, pedestrians or approaching traffic. The Pixel has a “Zero Turn toroidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT).” It can rotate one rear wheel forward and the other backward. As such, it has a turning circle of only 8.5 feet. The engine is a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder diesel. With

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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

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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

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Tata Motors planning diesel and facelifts for 2011 Nano

The exported edition will also feature 5-speed gear box which is absent in the Indian models which restrict speed to 65 mph based on safety. The five-speed gear box will be ideal for the European roads as Indian roads to do not facilitate gear changes at 65 mph. The exterior changes will also include and opening tailgate and a modified outside rear view mirror which allows movement of the mirror in its casing. This feature will also allow electrical adjustment feature in the future. There will also be check straps on the doors to limit the opening of doors. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The

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Tata Nano: New York Times test drives India's new $2,000 'People's Car'

The Times had its reporter, Nick Kurczewski, in Pune, India, to test drive the Nano. It’s the estimated $2,000 car some industry experts believe could be as important to the automotive industry as the Ford Model-T and the Volkswagen Beetle. “The Nano has a 32-horsepower, 624-cc, 2-cylinder engine mounted in the rear. Access is given to the engine via a removable panel underneath the foldable rear seat. Despite being a fraction of the size of most economy-car engines, the all-aluminum engine provides reasonable pep. Engine noise is also far less than one might imagine given the size and simplicity of the Nano. “Acceleration is hardly neck-snapping. An informal timed run from zero to 50 miles an hour took 16.4 seconds;

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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

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Toyota, Tata Motors Named Among World's Most Innovative Companies

In its list of the world’s 50 most innovated companies, Toyota and Tata Motors of India are both in the top-10 list. Apple, which debuted the iPhone and the MacBook Air in the past year, was named the world’s most innovative company. Here’s the top-10: 1. Apple; 2;.Google; 3. Toyota; 4. General Electric; 5. Microsoft;  6. Tata Motors; 7. Nintendo; 8. Proctor & Gamble; 9. Sony; 10. Nokia. 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.,

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