World's cheapest car coming to North America

[jebbinksky]

http://www.motorauthority.com/tata-w...or-the-us.html

Just this week Tata finally launched its Nano in India, instantly taking the title of "world's cheapest car" with its sub-$2,000 price tag. Now word is emerging that the company has its sights set not just on India and Europe, but the U.S. as well.

Building the Nano to meet U.S. requirements for safety and speed will be a difficult task, and is sure to drive the price up above the incredibly low price of the Indian-market Nano. Tata gave us a preview of what a U.S. Nano might look like in the form of the Europa, on display at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

That car is larger, features a larger three-cylinder engine much like the Smart ForTwo, and is packed with more features than the car launched this week in India. Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Motors, even hinted at the possibility of U.S. sale at Geneva, saying, "We are delighted to present the Nano Europa for future launch in such markets."

Today a report emerged in the Financial Times indicating that Tata is considering the Nano for U.S. launch by 2011 or 2012. The short time frame lends further credence to the idea that Tata would use the already semi-developed Europa platform for a U.S. vehicle.

The question then becomes one of American tastes and tolerances - will U.S. buyers be willing to set aside issues of quality and size for the low, low price that even a relatively expensive version of the Nano is likely to bring?

[cyrusli]

that's pretty neat.. as much as I'd say I would drive one, will it be safe in the extreme Alberta conditions?

[redsrt4]

wow toy car.. with that price ill get one for sure..

[Deetz]

Sine the car doesn't have things like airbags, ABS and proper Canadian stardard bumpers/rebars....i would expect that to sell for close to double the introduction price by the time it is ready for our streets.

Even so, i'm sure they'll sell a lot of them.

[pyroza]

Originally posted by Deetz
Sine the car doesn't have things like airbags, ABS and proper Canadian stardard bumpers/rebars....i would expect that to sell for close to double the introduction price by the time it is ready for our streets.

Even so, i'm sure they'll sell a lot of them.

Even at double the price it's only around $5000.

[dino_martini]

We can already buy Tata cars here. They are called Jaguar.

[benyl]

Originally posted by Deetz
Sine the car doesn't have things like airbags, ABS and proper Canadian stardard bumpers/rebars....i would expect that to sell for close to double the introduction price by the time it is ready for our streets.

Even so, i'm sure they'll sell a lot of them.

What Canadian bumper standards. Those no longer apply. 3mph US bumpers are all they need.

[sidewaysD]

its true.. iam hearing Canada has lifted the Evo8 bumper restrictions even though we have the evo 10 now

[dr_jared88]

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/257527/wo...r-now-on-sale/

[A790]

Originally posted by dr_jared88

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/257527/wo...r-now-on-sale/

This is not a repost.

[krusso04]

hmm id buy one but not sure how safe id feel in one of those lol.... but for 2000 it would make a good car to drive around in haha

[Deetz]

Originally posted by benyl


What Canadian bumper standards. Those no longer apply. 3mph US bumpers are all they need.

I was not aware of that. I guess that will just make the car easier to bring into the Canadian market.

[black_radiation]

Every 16 year old girl who would normally drive a sunfire is probably going to buy one of these... they are cheap and "cute"... just what every prostitot is looking for in a car... plus because of the price they are pretty much disposable cars lol

[BigMass]

group buy?

[funkedelic2]

I remember when this car came out. In all seriousness i would consider one if i just needed a cheap car to drive for a while. Imagine the resale value though haha

[bituerbo]

I wouldn't put a loved one in a German engineered Smart car, never mind something that *barely* meets Indian road safety standards. I would love to see what Top Gear would do with one.

Standard model is 123,000 Indian Rupees (INR) which at today's exchange rate is $2400 USD, so it's not 'sub $2000' anymore.

[SJW]

Im gonna buy 2. Then pimp the shit outta them and at car shows I can yell out "COME CHECK OUT MY WICKED AWESOME TATAS"

[911fever]

I just want one, to beat around in, and if you ding it up, no big deal, it's only worth 20 bucks after you drive it off the lot.

But seriously, I don't any of you beyond members would buy one. It's ridiculously slow, 0-60 in the 15 second range. It's brutal for acceleration.

[alloroc]

Originally posted by bituerbo
I would love to see what Top Gear would do with one.

I think in an 'axis vs allies' special James drag raced one against a porchche, a Vette, an Atom, a eurospec Mistu, and I can't remember what else. He lost.

[funkedelic2]

Originally posted by 911fever
I just want one, to beat around in, and if you ding it up, no big deal, it's only worth 20 bucks after you drive it off the lot.

But seriously, I don't any of you beyond members would buy one. It's ridiculously slow, 0-60 in the 15 second range. It's brutal for acceleration.

Wow that is very slow. I would hate to have to merge onto a highway and trying to cut in when people are going 120km