Tata Nano becomes CarBQ in Mumbai

Car fires are nothing new, but when it happens to the world's cheapest car on its way to its new home, the Tata Nano tends to lose its allure.

According to our friends at IndianAutosBlog, Satish Sawant, a Mumbai-based (irony alert) insurance agent, took delivery of his $2,500 hatchback, and while being chauffeured back to his house (Sawant doesn't have a license yet), a motorcyclist overtook him and pointed to the rear of his new baby. At which point, the driving duo noticed flames coming from the rear. Says Sawant, "I have no idea what happened... The engine was behind me and I did not realize the car was on fire."

This is apparently the second incident of a Nano catching fire, which, along with a recent spate of electrical issues, has some questioning the quality of the budget runabout. Naturally, today's lesson is: You get what you pay for.

[Source: IndianAutosBlog]

Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production

Land Rover has today confirmed what we've long expected – the popular LRX Concept from the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show is headed for production. The British-born automaker doesn't actually say the new 'ute will be called the LRX when it hits the market in 2011, but it will definitely be wearing a Range Rover badge and therefore likely be marketed as a premium vehicle.

No details are given about the coupe-like SUV's powertrain, but Land Rover does say the it "will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced." Previous reports have suggested the production LRX will share underpinnings with the LR2 (a.k.a. the Freelander) and will be offered with an optional all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain that may use an electric motor to power the rear wheels and a transverse engine underhood driving the front wheels.

Judging from the lone rendering released with this announcement, the basic shape from the LRX Concept should survive mostly intact, perhaps gaining a slightly more pronounced front fascia to go along with the production-necessary external door handles. Expect more details to filter out at the beginning of 2010

[Source: Land Rover]



PRESS RELEASE

SMALL RANGE ROVER CONFIRMED FOR PRODUCTION

Gaydon, Warwickshire, 24 September 2009 – Land Rover has confirmed today that a production version of its exciting LRX concept car will be built. The new car will debut next year and join the Range Rover line-up in 2011.

Designed and engineered at Land Rover's state of the art Gaydon facility, the new Range Rover will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced.

The new car will be built at the multi award-winning plant in Halewood, on Merseyside, subject to quality and productivity agreements and will be sold in over 100 countries around the world.

Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover said: "The production of a small Range Rover model is excellent news for our employees, dealers and customers. It is a demonstration of our commitment to investing for the future, to continue to deliver relevant vehicles for our customers, with the outstanding breadth of capability for which we are world-renowned."

"Feedback from our customer research also fully supports our belief that a production version of the LRX Concept would further raise the desirability of our brand and absolutely meet their expectations." Phil added.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director said "The new vehicle will be a natural extension to the Range Rover line-up, complementing the existing models and helping to define a new segment. It will be true to the concept and have many recognisable Range Rover design cues including the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid 'wheel-at-each-corner' stance."

More details of the new small Range Rover will be released next year.

All future Jaguars and Land Rovers to feature aluminum construction

Jaguar has been touting the aluminum-intensive construction of the XJ sedan since the previous-generation model was introduced back in 2003. According to the automaker, the use of aluminum in lieu of steel can lead to an impressive 40 percent reduction in weight. That's bound to have positive effects on driving dynamics, performance and efficiency.

With its latest redesign, Jaguar claims to have improved its aluminum architecture even further, so it's not surprising that the company plans to extend the technology to the rest of its line. According to Ratan Tata, chairman of the company that now owns Jaguar Land Rover, "JLR is planning to have all its future cars constructed with light weight aluminum bodies resulting in considerable savings in weight, and reduction in CO2 emissions."

To go along with their new diets, Jaguar and Land Rover are known to be experimenting with hybrid powertrains. A kinetic energy recovery system may be in the cards for the XJ line in 2011 while Land Rover has been working on an Electric Rear Axle Drive that could debut in the upcoming LRX compact Range Rover.

[Source: Motor E Magazine]

Many Tata Nanos to be used as taxi cabs?

India currently has just under 1.2 billion residents. Moreover, its population is set to overtake China any monsoon now. As India's economy continues to grow (currently the world's 12th largest) all those people now have places to go. We've all seen crazy pictures of fantastically overloaded Indian trains and buses with people hanging out of windows, but not only is that very dangerous, if you have a business meeting the last thing you want to do is sit on a dirty old roof with three dozen of your closest friends. Indians need taxis. Trouble is, cabs (and cars in general) are expensive to buy and poverty is still rampant. Enter the Tata Nano.

That's right, the world's cheapest new car is being eyeballed and ordered by many Indian entrepreneurs looking to start their very own cab company. Yes, Nanos are small and would make very lousy cabs in NYC or London. But to a person that's never owned a car before, it's (sorta) Versailles on wheels. And as the Nano is a no-frills, few features product, there's very little to break, so what does get broke will be cheap and easy to fix. In the biz, that's called "win-win." Besides all that, we're thinking that hundreds of thousands of Nanos darting all over Mumbai would be cute. Sort of like Rome in the 1950s.

[Source: Autocar]

Tata Nano passes European crash testing

The Tata Nano, the diminutive Indian four-door econobox rumored to eventually arrive in U.S. showrooms, has reportedly passed current European impact testing. According to Autocar, the offset front and side impact tests took place at the MIRA test center last week under supervision by an inspector from Britain's Vehicle Certification Authority. A spokesperson for Tata said the company is "delighted but not surprised" with the results, as the car had already been tested in India.

Sold only in its homeland right now, Tata seems determined to expand its passenger vehicle business to Europe and North America. With that in mind, the automaker is working to upgrade the Nano to ensure the Lilliputian meets "Westernized" crash standards, including the European NCAP tests, and our own NHTSA requirements.

[Source: Autocar UK]

Tata selects first 100,000 Nano buyers from lotto

Interest in the world's most affordable new car has been very strong, as Tata Motors reportedly received 206,000 applications for the $2,500 Nano. Due to production constraints, Tata ran a lottery to determine which of the applicants would receive one of the first 100,000 Nanos, and the Indian automaker is informing the "winners" in person.

The first 100,000 customers eligible to receive a Nano will get their car by the end of 2010, with deliveries beginning in July. The first allotment of 100,000 Nanos will be price protected to remain consistent with Tata's press release in March. Of the 106,000 Tata customers left out in the cold (for now) 51,000 chose not to keep their names in contention for future Nano lotteries. Those customers will be offered discounts on other Tata products.

The remaining 55,000 customers that are still in contention for future Nano lotteries are also being offered discounts. Since Tata collected a "booking fee" for the right to enter the lottery, that money will collect 8.5% interest if the Nano is delivered withing two years, and 8.75% if it takes longer than two years.

[Source: Telegraph India]

2012 Jaguar sports car to get Volt-like extended-range hybrid tech?

Ratan Tata, Jaguar's owner, knows that the future of the company rests on "shiny and new" products. That's why the XE roadster was reportedly moved to the front of the line and given a 2011 release date. If the soothsayers at Motor Trend are correct, Tata also understands that cleaner engines are the future of the industry itself, because the XE could also bolster Jaguar's credentials by reportedly including the option of a Volt-like range-extending hybrid drivetrain.

The mooted gas-electric system is a conventional three-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an electric motor. It is also being suggested by MT that the concept XE may be fitted with that powerplant, but it might not make it to the production version.

If it does come to market, however, the car probably won't have any natural competition at its price point given its green credentials, with the possible exception of the Fisker Karma S. Even if the extended-range hybrid rumor fails to materialize, the coupe is likely to get variants of the company's new 5.0-liter V8 engine range, which presently offers up to 510-horsepower in supercharged form...

[Source: Motor Trend]

Tata confirms Nano U.S.-bound in around two years

Americans may have the opportunity to welcome the Tata Nano to their shores in just over two years, according to a confirmation from David Good, a U.S. rep for the Indian automaker. Before it arrives, Tata assures that the ultra-cheap compact with a base price of just $2500 will be configured to meet all emission and crash standards. If successful, we could see see versions of the Indian microcars running on biofuel and diesel.

But who will distribute the teensy Tatas? Well, that's up in the air right now. A brand-new dealer network for the brand has been discussed. Another option would be selling the Nano through Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships -- the Indian automaker owns both, after all. That long shot was quickly dismissed by Stuart Schorr, a spokesman for Jaguar Land Rover, before the repercussions could sink in.

[Source: Automotive News]

Tata says it sells over 51,000 Nano "booking forms" in five days

Tata knew pent-up demand for its super-cheap Nano would be so high in advance of its official delivery date that the Indian automaker set up an unique pre-ordering system allowing potential customers to sign up with booking forms. After all these forms have been collected, a computer will randomly choose the first 100,000 people to take possession in July.

That process began just five days ago on April 1st, and Tata has already sold over 51,000 booking forms to its dealer network and individual customers, with another 30,000 or so being taken from a number of Tata partners. Each order form is being sold for 300 Rupees, which is about $6.00 in U.S. funds. Prices for individual Nanos are reportedly ranging from between 95,000 and 145,000 Rupees ($1,880 to $2,780), which officially makes this the World's Cheapest Car.

One thing seems sure: Tata is going to sell a ton of these cars. Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your particular viewpoint. It's almost a certainty that people will be safer in the four-wheeled enclosed Nano than on the little scooters and cycles they are currently riding, but a number of environmental groups have voiced concerns over the impact this many new cars will have on their surroundings. Regardless of how this ultimately plays out, this is only the beginning.

[Source: Economic Times]

Jaguar/Land Rover needs £500 million from the UK government to prevent layoffs

Ratan Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) expecting to pick them up and help them fly. Instead, as with nearly every other car manufacturer, he's having to dig them out of a deepening hole. From last December through next month, 1,800 employees have either been laid off, released or asked to leave. According to Tata, if the UK government doesn't give JLR £500 million ($715 million USD) in loan guarantees, more people will have to go.

The government appears to be passing on the request, having already given Land Rover a £27 million ($38 million USD) loan to help it create the LRX. Even as the government is continuing to help JLR secure bank financing, the line on JLR's new request for loan guarantees is that "the primary responsibility for short-term financing or longer-term restructuring rests with the parent company."

[Source: Automotive News]

Autocar reviews Tata Nano

Now that Tata's tiny little Nano is officially on sale, a number of media outlets around the world have found themselves behind the wheel, pouring over the positives and negatives associated with driving such an inexpensive vehicle. Interestingly, most of the reviews we've seen have been highly favorable. As it turns out, the World's Cheapest Car is just that – a real car. And it's a surprisingly decent one at that according to a motoring journalist from Autocar India who captured his initial thoughts on video.

We got a good chuckle from the reviewer's assertion that if the Germans had built the Nano, they would have added too much stuff to it and made their version just as expensive as the MINI, while if the Americans were behind the Nano, we would've priced it right below the competition and took away its striking price point.

[Source: Autocar]

Tata pondering Nano launch for U.S. market

Could an extremely inexpensive, minuscule little car like the Tata Nano actually sell in America, a land historically enamored with powerful V8 engines surrounded by as much sheetmetal as possible? According to the Financial Times, Tata Motors may be about to find out, as the Indian automaker is said to be looking at an introduction into the U.S. market by 2011 or 2012.

What makes Ratan Tata, chairman of the automaker that bears his name, think that his diminutive rear-engined machine might sell in the United States? The economy, of course. Americans may be willing to accept some of the sacrifices that would go hand-in-hand with owning the World's Cheapest Car, though the version likely to sell in the States would surely differ in major ways from what is now on sale in India.

If the Tata Nano were to hit the U.S. market, it would need to pass the same safety and emissions regulations as any other car currently sold in America. Those are not insurmountable tasks, however, as proven by the version of the Nano that's planned for European markets.

So far, there is no indication of how much a Tata Nano would cost in U.S. dollars if it were sold here.

[Source: Financial Times]

Order books open on $2,000 Tata Nano

It's been a long time in the making, but the official launch of the Tata Nano has finally taken place. Billed as the World's Cheapest Car, the diminutive Nano will sell for just Rs. 1 lakh (about $2,000 U.S.) as it leaves the factory, though shipping, taxes and registration adds a considerable amount to that total. Still, there's a great deal of anticipation for the little car in its home market of India.

In base trim, the Tata Nano comes in just three colors without a radio or air conditioning, although higher-spec versions are available that include more color choices, along with such niceties as central locking, front power windows, fog lamps, a cup holder, and even a rear spoiler.

While it may be short on amenities, the real intent of the Nano is to get Indian families off their two-wheelers and inside the relative comfort and safety of a proper automobile. As such, the 33-horsepower, 623cc two-cylinder engine and four-speed gearbox is reportedly powerful enough to get the Nano to Indian highway speeds, and the car meets all required safety and emissions requirements. It also comes standard with an 18-month/24,000 kilometer warranty.

Due to the huge demand expected for the car, the automaker has created a special process for reservations. A computer will randomly choose the first 100,000 customers that will have the opportunity to purchase a new Nano. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in July, but in the meantime, Nano-intenders will soon be able to accessorize their life with appropriate accoutrements, including a Nano phone, wristwatch, and t-shirts.

[Source: Tata Motors]

Tata - Indian automaker debuts Nano Europa

Uttering the word "Europa" should spark memories of the funky and fragile Lotus of the '60s and '70s, or perhaps the British sportscar company's more recent revival. What one normally doesn't tend to think of is the Tata Nano.

That may change, however, as the discount Indian auto is slated to come to The Continent wearing the Nano Europa badge, and it will arrive with more standard equipment and a higher base price than the target $2,500 USD it will sell for in India. Judging from the production-ready models debuting at the Geneva Motor Show this week, it will also be the best-looking Nano in the family.

While the naming usage may have Colin Chapman rolling in his minimalist coffin, the Nano Europa still shares a few similarities, including a low curb weight, small wheels at the corners, small engines with unusual placements, and so on.

The Europa differs significantly from the standard Nano with a longer 2.28-meter wheelbase (90 inches, or about 7.5 inches longer), a different drivetrain and added standard equipment. In fact, the Europa offers a raft of high-end new-to-Nano features like four-lug 14-inch alloy wheels, electric power steering, LED lighting (unlikely to see production) and even a standard passenger-side mirror. Did we mention it even has an all-aluminum three-cylinder engine and a five-speed transmission for less-dangerous highway cruising?

All joking aside, the Europa also figures to get more safety features, including stability control and anti-lock brakes, and Tata says the car will adhere to all necessary safety regulations before it goes on sale.

While pricing has not been announced, there is talk of hitting the 5,000 Euro bogey (around $6350 USD) when the car launches for 2011, and if the company can hit that target price, we suspect there will be far more Tata Europas extant than Lotus Europas in just a few months' worth of production

Tata Nano to officially debut on March 23, sales start in April

After a slew of problems and delays – not the least of which was a huge amount of opposition from local farmers in West Bengal where the first assembly plant was being built – Tata Motors has finally announced that production of their Nano city car will begin on March 23 at the alternate facility in Gurajat. Sales will officially begin the first week in April as dealerships receive their first allotments of what is sure to become an instantly popular vehicle.

Much of the hype surrounding the Nano is related to its targeted low price, which at 100,000 rupees (just under $2,000 in U.S. dollars at current exchange rates) would make Tata's Nano the cheapest automobile in the world. Of course, that's without standard air conditioning or painted bumpers and such, but it will come with a 33-horsepower, 623cc two-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels.

[Source: Tata Motors via Motor Tips]

Tata shooting for 80,000 Nanos by March of 2010, diesel in 2011

The troubles that Tata Motors has had in getting its Nano microcar off the ground have been well documented. After a series of protests turned violent over a land dispute between local farmers in West Bengal and the Indian automaker,, production was moved to Tata's Pantnagar facility. Despite the massive setback (Tata had almost completed construction of the main plant before moving), the Indian automaker reportedly believes that it can assemble 80,000 Nanos by March of 2010. By that time, a second plant in Sanand should be ready to go, and that would quickly become the main facility for the inexpensive car (though Pantnagar would still supplement the larger operation).

What's next for the ongoing saga that is The World's Cheapest Car? By the end of 2011, the Nano's will get a diesel engine option in addition to the standard 33-horsepower 625 cc twin-cylinder gas unit that will be powering all Nanos at launch. Also on the future menu will be such sybaritic options as air conditioning and an automatic gearbox.


[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Tata Indica celebrates decade of sales with special edition

This cute little guy is the Tata Indica Vista, a special edition created to celebrate ten years of Indica sales. The Indica has perennially been one of India's best selling cars, as well as being Tata's prime mover. Given credit for greatly lifting the fortunes of the company, the Indica walks off with 78% of sales among the cars built on its platform (like the Indigo and Marina).

With design elements that might be generously taken from Ford's European design language, the Vista's changes from the regular Indica are all cosmetic. It will get a specially designed number plate, an interior with better materials and design, an integrated audio system and double-stitched seats. It will come in a selection of colors and a variety of wheel options, and if you're keen on the Vista, you can even read a review. For the rest of you, the full press release is after the jump. Let's hope Tata can create the same magic with Jaguar and Land Rover after ten years of ownership.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Tata Nano, goes 60 mph in 17 seconds

The Tata Nano's claim to fame is its budget $2,500 price tag. You'd have trouble picking up a 1995 Honda Civic with 140,000 miles on it for that price. But what do you get for the price of a lawn tractor? How about a 624cc 33-hp motor mated to a four-speed manual transmission, for starters. That potent combo will propel any lucky Nano driver from 0-60 in 17 seconds. Add some groceries and a passenger (or a slight uphill grade) and we're guessing you'll never see 60 mph in any time frame.

CAR Magazine in the UK recently became one of the first publications in the world to drive the Nano and did mention that it has a compliant ride, which is quite a feat considering the MSRP. The Nano also has options like a radio and air conditioning, but if you ever want to go faster than 50, we'd advise you skip the freon. Tata is looking to remedy this "performance" problems with a more powerful gasoline powerplant mated to a five-speed automatic, but for now the Nano will only manage to hit 60 in the time it takes to heat up a hot dog in your 1,200-watt microwave. That 13-year-old Honda is starting to sound pretty good right about now.

[Source: CAR Magazine via eGMCarTech]

Jaguar planning Boxster rival, XF coupe and cabrio

Tata is looking to move quickly to expand Jaguar's range of saloons, and why not with such a legacy of sports cars and world-beaters from which to draw? Jaguar became a household name due in large part to racing successes with such cars as the legendary XK120, C-Type and D-Type. More recently in the '90s, the British automaker has tested the exotic waters with its slinky XJ220 supercar. Rumors of a less expensive sports car in the vein of a Porsche Boxster are currently filtering out from dealerships that have spoken with the marque's new management, along with convertible and coupe versions of the popular XF sedan, which has already served to spark a renewed interest in the brand.

Considering that the X-Type is largely considered a colossal failure, don't expect another low-cost sedan. And, though some of its competitors (BMW, we're looking at you) seem to think selling as many SUVs as possible is still a good thing, Tata also owns Land Rover and doesn't want its two iconic British automakers to compete with one another. Sounds rational.

[Source: Automotive News]

Tata ready to move Nano plant away from contentious region

The Tata Nano may be the most expensive vehicle ever to be the cheapest new car on earth. Violent protests at one of the car's planned assembly sites have gotten so rampant that the Indian automaker is near a deal to exit the nearly completed West Bengal facility all together. Just a few days after a supplier CEO was killed by a mob of protesters, two body guards were also assaulted at the contentious facility. The controversy in West Bengal centers around the land that local farmers lost to the $200 million Euro facility, and with the building nearly complete, it's hard to believe that land will be returned any time soon even if Tata did abandon the region.

Word out of India is that the state of Karnataka has offered Tata Motors 1,000 acres plus incentives to move Nano production there, and the local media is reporting that Tata is going to announce plans as early as next week. We're not in the micro car business, but if we were, we'd avoid building them where there is the constant threat of being beaten or killed by an angry mob. Moving Nano production to a region that actually wants the Tata there seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.

[Source: Motor Trend]