Tata Nano

Tata Nano

Manufacturer	Tata Motors
Also called	The People's Car
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Pantnagar, Uttarkhand, India [1] Charodi, Gujarat, India (since June 2010)[2]
Class	City car
Body style(s)	4-door
Layout	RR layout
Engine(s)	2 cylinder SOHC petrol Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 624 cc (38 cu in)
Transmission(s)	4 speed synchromesh with overdrive in 4th
Wheelbase	2,230 mm (87.8 in)[3]
Length	3,099 mm (122.0 in)[3]
Width	1,495 mm (58.9 in)[3]
Height	1,652 mm (65.0 in)[3]
Kerb weight	600 kg (1,300 lb)–635 kg (1,400 lb)[3]
Designer	Girish Wagh, Justin Norek of Trilix, Pierre Castinel[4]

Tata Nano is a rear-engined, four-passenger city car built by Tata Motors, aimed primarily at the Indian market. It is the cheapest car in the world today.^[5]

It debuted in late 2008 at the 9th annual Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India,^[6] and started to be delivered to customers in July, 2009.^[7]

In 2008 the Financial Times reported: "if ever there were a symbol of India’s ambitions to become a modern nation, it would surely be the Nano, the tiny car with the even tinier price-tag. A triumph of homegrown engineering, the $2,200 (€1,490, £1,186) Nano encapsulates the dream of millions of Indians groping for a shot at urban prosperity."^[8]

Nano is the SI prefix for one-billionth, and the word is used colloquially to mean "very small".^[9]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Expectations 1.2 Singur factory pullout 1.3 Design 1.3.1 Cost cutting features 2 Price 3 Model versions 3.1 Europa 4 Technical specifications 5 Alternative-energy engines 5.1 Compressed-air engine 5.2 Diesel 5.3 Electric vehicle 6 Effects 6.1 Pollution increase 6.2 Indian used car market 7 Awards 8 Issues 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

History

The introduction of the Nano received much media attention due to its low price.^[10][11]

Expectations

Many have had great expectations for the Nano,^[12] some perhaps going a bit too far. One study, by Indian rating agency CRISIL, thought the Nano would expand the nation's car market by 65%.^[13]

Singur factory pullout

Tata Motors announced in 2006 that the Nano would be manufactured in Singur, West Bengal. Local farmers soon began protesting the forced acquisition of their land for the new factory,^[14] and there was widespread violence when police and farmers clashed in December, 2006. As the protests continued through 2007 and 2008^[15][16][17] Tata first delayed the Nano launch^[17] and later decided to build the car at a different location in Gujarat, instead.^[18][2]

Design

Seeing an opportunity in the great number of Indian families with two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled vehicles,^[19] Tata Motors began development of an affordable "one-lakh car" in 2003.^[15] The purchase price of this no frills auto was brought down by dispensing with most nonessential features, reducing the amount of steel used in its construction, and relying on cheap Indian labor.^[20]

The Nano's development was foreshadowed by the 2005 success of the low-cost, 4-wheeled Tata Ace truck.^[15]

The car's exterior was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering.^[15]

Cost cutting features

The Nano's design is chock-full of cost-reducing innovations.

• The Nano's trunk is only accessible from inside the car, as the rear hatch does not open.^[21][22][23]
• One windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair^[10]
• No power steering, unnecessary due to its light weight^[10]
• Three lug nuts on the wheels instead of the usual four^[24]
• Only one wing mirror^[10]
• No radio or CD player^[10]
• Air conditioning not included^[10]
• No airbags^[10]
• 623cc engine has only 2 cylinders^[10]

Price

Announcing the vehicle as the least expensive production car in the world;^[25] Tata aimed for a starting price of one lakh, or 100,000, rupees. This was approximately US$2000 at the time.^[26][27]

Rapidly rising material prices^[28] (up 13% to 23% over the car’s development time^[29]) caused the car to be priced somewhat higher than Rs 100,000.^[30]

Model versions

At its launch the Nano was available in trim levels:^[30]

• the basic Std priced at 123,000 Rupees has no extras;
• the deluxe Cx at 151,000 Rupees has air conditioning;
• the luxury Lx at 172,000 Rupees has air conditioning and power windows

Europa

This export version of the Nano was first shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.^[31] Heavily modified to meet EU safety and emission standards, the car will have a number of improvements over the standard Nano, including an extended wheelbase, a new 3-cylinder engine, power steering, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and an improved interior and exterior.^[31] The Nano Europa will be more expensive, heavier, and less fuel efficient than the standard Nano with prices said to be around US$6000.^[32]

Technical specifications

The Nano is a 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) car with a two-cylinder 624 cc rear engine.

The car complies with Indian emission standards and can also meet European emission standards as well.^[21][33]

Engine:	2 cylinder petrol with Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 33 horsepower (25 kW) 624 cc (38 cu in)
	Value Motronic engine management platform from Bosch
	2 valves per cylinder overhead camshaft
	Compression ratio: 9.5:1
	bore × stroke: 73.5 mm (2.9 in) × 73.5 mm (2.9 in)
	Power: 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) @ 5250 rpm[3]
	Torque: 48 N·m (35 ft·lbf) @ 3000 +/-500 rpm[3]
Layout and Transmission	Rear wheel drive
	4-speed manual transmission
Steering	mechanical rack and pinion w/o servo
	Turning radius: 4 metres[3]
Performance	Acceleration: 0-60 km/h (37 mph): 8 seconds[3]
	Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)[3]
	Fuel efficiency (overall): 23.6 kilometres per litre (4.24 litres per 100 kilometres (66.6 mpg-imp; 55.5 mpg-US))[3]
Body and dimensions	Seat belt: 4[34]
	Trunk capacity: 150 L (5.3 cu ft)[35]
Suspension, Tires & Brakes	Front brake: 180 mm drum[3]
	Rear brake: 180 mm drum[3]
	Front track: 1,325 mm (52.2 in)[3]
	Rear track: 1,315 mm (51.8 in)[3]
	Ground clearance: 180 mm (7.1 in)[3]
	Front suspension: McPherson strut with lower A arm
	Rear suspension: Independent coil spring
	12-inch wheels[36]

Supplier [37]	Part/system [37]
Texspin	Clutch Bearings
Bosch	Oxygen sensor, Gasoline injection system (diesel will follow), starter, alternator, brake system
Continental AG	Gasoline fuel supply system, fuel level sensor
Caparo	Inner structural panels
HSI AUTO	Static sealing systems (Weather Strips)
Delphi	Instrument cluster
Denso	Windshield wiper system (single motor and arm)
FAG Kugelfischer	Rear-wheel bearing
Federal-Mogul	Pistons, Piston rings, Spark plugs, Gaskets, Systems protection
Ficosa	Rear-view mirrors, interior mirrors, manual and CVT shifters, washer system
Freudenberg	Engine sealing
GKN	Driveshafts
INA	Shifting elements
ITW Deltar	Outside and inside door handles
Johnson Controls	Seating
Mahle	Camshafts, spin-on oil filters, fuel filters and air cleaners
Saint-Gobain	Glass
TRW	Brake system
Ceekay Daikin/Valeo	Clutch sets
Vibracoustic	Engine mounts
Visteon	Air induction system
ZF Friedrichshafen AG	Chassis components, including tie rods
Behr	HVAC for the luxury version
Dürr	Lean Paint Shop

Alternative-energy engines

While the Nano is a driven by a gasoline-powered engine, several more radical powerplants have been proposed but not put into production.

Compressed-air engine

Tata Motors signed an agreement in 2007 with a French firm, Motor Development International, to produce a compressed air car Nano.^[38] While the vehicle was supposed to be able to travel approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) on US$3 of electricity to compress the air,^[39][40] Tata's Vice President of Engineering Systems confirmed in late 2009 that vehicle range continues to be a problem.^[38]

Diesel

A website has speculated that the Nano might be made available with a 690 cc diesel engine by September, 2010.^[41] Tata motors have not confirmed this but have stated, "as of now the diesel variant is not offered. [The Nano] will be offered only in petrol now."^[42]

Electric vehicle

Tata has discussed the possibility of selling an electric version,^[43][44] and while it showcased an electric vehicle Nano at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show,^[45] no such car is currently on the market.

If an EV Nano is sold it's expected to be the "world's cheapest electric car",^[46][47] use lithium-ion batteries, and have a range of 80 miles (130 km).^[48] A Norwegian electric car specialist, Miljøbil Grenland AS, has been named as a supposed partner in the project.^[43]

Effects

The introduction of a cheap, mass market auto such as the Nano is bound to have some unforeseen effects.

Pollution increase

As the Nano was designed for a population currently using eco-friendly bicycles and motorcycles, environmentalists are concerned of the increase in pollution that would follow a mass motorization in developing countries such as India.^[10][21][20]

The Nano has far lower emissions compared with developed country autos, however.^[10]

Indian used car market

The Nano is thought to have affected the used car market in India, as many Indians may opt to buy a Nano rather than a used vehicle. The new-car market is also being affected. Sales of new Maruti 800s, the second-cheapest car in India, dropped by 20% and used models by 30% prior to the Nano's introduction.^[49]

Awards

• 2010 Business Standard Motoring Indian car of the year^[50]
• 2010 Bloomberg UTV-Autocar car of the year^[51]
• 2010 Edison Awards, first place in the transportation category^[52]

Issues

As of Friday, Aug 27, 2010, six Nanos have caught fire across India; Tata is investigating.^[53]

See also

• City car
• Kei car

References

External links

• Tata Nano - Official product page

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Type	1990s										2000s										2010s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
City car																			Nano
Supermini									Indica			Indica V2
Subcompact													Indigo
																			Indigo CS
																		Indigo XL
compact																				Indigo Manza
Crossover																					Aria
SUV	Sierra							Sierra Turbo	Safari TCIC							Safari dicor
Pickup	Tata TL																Xenon
MUV/MPV			Estate		Sumo										Sumo Victa
																			Sumo Grande
																					Venture
Microvan																		Magic
																					Magic Iris
Maxi Van																		Winger