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The Tata Nano, India's $2,500 Car - READ ONLY

341 messages,  Last post on Oct 29, 2012 at 10:28 PM

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#312 of 341 Get Ready For The Tata by hpmctorque

Oct 15, 2012 (5:07 am)

From today's Automotive News...
 
PARAMUS, N.J. --"A redesigned version of India's no-frills Nano minicar will come to the United States in three years, said Ratan Tata, the billionaire boss of that country's giant Tata Group.
 
'The U.S. is a very enticing market,' Tata said in an interview. 'We are redesigning the Nano for both Europe and the U.S.'
 
He said the new Nano will be far more sophisticated than the ultracheap model that has flopped in India despite a world of hype.
 
It will get a bigger engine and 'more bells and whistles,' including such features as power steering and traction control. Tata said it will be priced below $10,000.
 
What the 74-year-old industrialist did not say is how he intends to sell it here. Tata has no U.S. retail network.
 
The existing Nano, an egg-shaped four-seater, was developed for India as an alternative to scooters. At 122 inches long, it is nearly two feet shorter than a Mini, and it has a two-cylinder, rear-mounted engine with 37 hp. Tata, whose company owns Jaguar and Land Rover, conceived the Nano as the world's cheapest car. It went on sale in 2009 with a price tag of about $2,500.
 
He said a car priced below $10,000 would have appeal in the United States.
 
'The Smart and the Fiat 500 have high sticker prices, and people buy them because they are small cars,' said Tata at the opening of a Jaguar Land Rover dealership here. 'But everyone knows you put a lot of money into it. We hope that the sub-$10,000 car has appeal.'..."
 
Will this be the spritual successor to the Ugo, or a game changer for the small car market in the U.S.? How afraid should Fiat, Smart and others be?

#313 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [hpmctorque] by ateixeira

Oct 15, 2012 (7:31 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Oct 15, 2012 5:07 am)
Not a threat. ForTwo doesn't sell anyway. Fiat costs nearly double.
 
This may compete with the Versa and the Spark, the current price champs.
 
We'll see, but I don't see how it won't be a cheap tin can at that price.

#314 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [hpmctorque] by fintail

Oct 15, 2012 (8:42 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Oct 15, 2012 5:07 am)
Not afraid at all. They don't sell too well as it is, and are much more substantial than the Nano. The Nano does nothing but beg the question "how much do you NEED a new car", as the used market has lots of nice choices at that price.

#315 of 341 VW's cheap car plans by ateixeira

Oct 15, 2012 (10:26 am)

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/14/vw-planning-new-ultra-low-cost-model-to-take-- on-dacia-datsun/

#316 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [fintail] by gagrice

Oct 15, 2012 (12:03 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Oct 15, 2012 8:42 am)
The only way it would seem practical is if it had a small diesel that would get 100 MPG around town. The Fiat, Mini and Smart are not what I would call great mileage cars. None can match the VW TDI cars in reality.

#317 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [gagrice] by ateixeira

Oct 16, 2012 (10:32 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 15, 2012 12:03 pm)
Plus, don't all those use premium fuel?

#318 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [gagrice] by fintail

Oct 16, 2012 (10:39 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 15, 2012 12:03 pm)
Just to think if either of those were offered here. One had to wonder why they aren't.
 
I saw at a station somewhere in CA that diesel was less than even regular.

#319 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [fintail] by gagrice

Oct 16, 2012 (10:45 am)

Replying to: fintail (Oct 16, 2012 10:39 am)
Diesel is about $4.25 around here. Cheapest RUG is $4.39. I paid $4.49 at Costco yesterday. The higher fuel prices go the better deal diesel becomes.

#320 of 341 Re: Get Ready For The Tata [fintail] by ateixeira

Oct 16, 2012 (10:45 am)

Replying to: fintail (Oct 16, 2012 10:39 am)
That's a temporary phenomenon, due to the fuel shortages.
 
Around me the closest diesel costs more than premium, and there aren't many stations that carry diesel for you to price shop.

#321 of 341 More on Nano, including concept pics by ateixeira

Oct 16, 2012 (11:08 am)

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/redesigned-tata-nano-to-arrive-in-u-s-wearing- -price-tag-under/

Messages Page 33 of 35

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