a lug nut is a fastener
TRANSCRIPT
A lug nut is a fastener, specifically a nut, used to secure a wheel on a vehicle. Typically, lug nuts are found on automobiles, trucks (lorries), and other large vehicles utilizing rubber tires
A lug nut is a fastener, specifically a nut, used to secure a wheel on a vehicle. Typically, lug nuts are found on automobiles, trucks (lorries), and other large vehicles utilizing rubber tires.
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The demand will be unlimited.Ratan Tata had a dream to offer millions a car as a substitute to two-wheelers. This led to the emergence of the now famous one-lakh car concept. A decade after starting the project, Tata Motors is on the verge of launching the so called “chairman’s parting present to the Indian auto industry.”
The criterion was simple. A remarkably low cost car which had to be four-door, cheap to run and would be produced in several parts of the country. The first incarnation of this car was unveiled way back at the 1998 Auto Expo and was christened ‘Zing’. We believe it is this particular car from which the essential DNA for the One-Lakh Rupee Car (OLRC) has been taken. The Zing itself if it was the starting point has undergone millions of permutations and combinations to see it emerging as potential best-seller when launched next year as the OLRC.
Beginning with the styling, this car could be best described as funky. Starting from the Zing DNA which was modelled on the Smart and looked much like that DaimlerChrysler micro-mini, the car is now quite evolved. The OLRC now sports a sleek, but not quite blunt (aka Smart) front end which is reminiscent of the recently launched Zen Estilo. However, thanks to the engine being lodged in the boot, designers have been able to achieve quite a sharp rake for the bonnet. – which adds to the interior space. However, there is no space up front for a boot as it is in most rear engined cars. The sharp rake means that whatever space was available is now being used inside the cabin. Headlamps would be incorporated on the bonnet and won’t be wraparound types like the ones shown way back on the Zing. A smiling grille, which is fast becoming the company’s corporate identity, would adorn the bonnet line. The rounded bumper is sure to come as a boon in current traffic conditions. The grille extends to the bumper with recesses serving the purpose of indicators. At the rear, tail lights similar to those found on the Indicab have been used giving the OLRC a premium feel. The general consensus is that the OLRC will not look or feel as downmarket as the Ace but will have better levels of fit and finish and better materials will be used.
That the engine is at the rear has been clearly established. And there will be very little space behind the rear seatback and the rear hatch. So luggage carrying space will be at a premium and will be one of the main drawbacks of the OLRC. The rear hatch will provide access to the engine with will be below the rear seat. Thus open the hatch, fold over the rear seat and you get access to the two-cylinder engine. The folded over rear seat would provide the only serious luggage carrying capability to the OLRC.
Tata Motors is banking on rather small engines to power this car. However considering its diminutive dimensions, it might be wrong to call it underpowered. Two engine options are in the offing, a 660cc 2-cylinder petrol and a 700cc diesel. While the petrol version will be out
first, the diesel will soon follow suit. The diesel would be a two-cylinder common rail engine with an injection system specially developed by Bosch for
The ultra-low priced Tata Nano is now available for purchase in India. Orders are now being taken for the
three different models, with the car hitting showrooms India-wide on 1 April. Delivery of the cars will
begin in July.
Tata's affordable city car starts at 1 Lakh, or 100,000 Indian Rupees. In today's exchange rate, that
corresponds to just under 2,000 USD, or about 1,450 euros.
Because of an expected rush on vehicle purchases, the company has put in a selection process where
customers may apply to own one of the first 100,000 units produced. All those who apply and put down a
deposit by 25 April will be put into a random drawing to determine the new owners. Application fee is Rs.
300 ($6), with the deposit costing Rs. 3000 ($60).
Don't worry; if you do not get chosen to be one of the first 100,000, you will have the option of taking
your deposit back, or earning 8.5% interest on the deposit against the price of the car. By 2010, the
Sanand plant in Gujarat, India, should be producing as many as 350,000 vehicles per year.
Built with an all-new aluminum 2-cylinder 33hp 624 cc petrol engine, the four-speed car comes as the
Nano Standard, Nano CX, and Nano LX. The Standard comes only in three color choices, with a folding
rear seat. The CX has heating and air conditioning, five colors to choose from, two-tone seats, assisted
braking, and a parcel shelf. Step up to the LX and you get power windows and locks, fog lamps, mobile
phone charger, and rear spoiler.
Of the car, Tata chief Ratan N. Tata said, "The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional
barriers. From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the concept, development and
productionisation of the car has overcome several challenges."
"I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been
able to own a car. We are delighted in presenting the Tata Nano to India and the world," he continued in
a press release.
The company also showed off a proposed European model at this month's Geneva show. It is slightly
larger than the Indian model, and would have a more powerful three-cylinder aluminum engine.
world’s cheapest has bagged the award of Auto car India 2010’s’ Car of the Year. On this achievement Tata Sons' chairman Ratan Tata said that recognition they had achieved was for the full team and now they had to work harder to meet up expectations. There were different categories in Auto Car India Awards 2010 like Best Value for Money Car, Best Design and Styling, Best Variant of the Year, Car Ad of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, etc which were given to the best and the most deserving contributors to the Indian auto market.
Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS is awarded as Bike of the Year, New Mercedes E-class as Best Luxury Car, Toyota Fortuner as Luxury SUV of The Year, Fiat Grande Punto as Best Design & Styling, Tata Indigo Manza as Best Value For Money Car and Maruti Suzuki India as Manufacturer Of The Year. The jury for this year's Autocar Awards involved Dilip Chhabria, Manwendra Singh, Hormazd Sorabjee, Shapur Kotwal, Renuka Kirpalani, Rajeev Khanna and Naren Kumar.
Mumbai, 23 March 2009: Finally, after the long wait since its unveiling on January 10, 2008, Tata Motors today announced the commercial launch of the Tata Nano.
The BS-III compliant Nano comes with an all-new 2-cylinder aluminium MPFI 624 cc petrol engine mated to a 4-speed gear box and will be available in three variants.
The cars will be on display across the country at Tata Motors Passenger Car dealerships and other select authorised outlets from April 1st.
Speaking at a press conference, the Chairman of Tata Sons & Tata Motors, Mr.Ratan N Tata, said, “The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional barriers. From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the concept, development and productionisation of the car has overcome several challenges. It is to the credit of the team at Tata Motors that a car once thought impossible by the world is now a reality. I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car. We are delighted in presenting the Tata Nano to India and the world.”
The Tata Nano is currently being manufactured at the company’s Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand in limited numbers. The new dedicated plant, at Sanand in Gujarat, will be ready in 2010 with an annualised capacity of 3,50,000 cars.
The 3 Nano Variants
Tata Nano offers an incredibly spacious passenger compartment which can comfortably seat four adults. With a length of just 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, the Tata Nano has the smallest exterior footprint for a car in India but is 21% more spacious than the smallest car available today.
A high seating position makes ingress and egress easy. Its small size coupled with a turning radius of just 4 metres, makes it extremely manoeuvrable in the smallest of parking slots.
The three trim levels and their key features available at launch are:
Tata Nano Standard (BS-II and BS-III): The standard version, in three colour options, single-tone
seats, and fold-down rear seat;
Tata Nano CX (BS-II and BS-III): In five colour options, with heating and air-conditioning (HVAC), two-tone seats, parcel shelf, booster-assisted brakes, fold-down rear seat with nap rest;
Tata Nano LX (BS-III): With the features of CX plus complete fabric seats, central locking, front power windows, body coloured exteriors in three premium colours, fog lamps, electronic trip meter, cup holder in front console, mobile charger point, and rear spoiler.
Many of these features are not available on current entry-level small cars in the country.
Performance & Specifications
Performance: The 2-cylinder engine – delivering 35 ps @ 5250 rpm and a torque of 48 Nm @ 3000 rpm - enables the car to have a top speed of 105 Kmph and negotiate inclines with a gradeability of 30%.
Fuel efficiency: 23.6 Km/litre, certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) under mandated test conditions, which is the highest for any petrol car in India.
Emission: The high fuel efficiency, coupled with a low kerb weight of 600 Kg, ensures that the Tata Nano – at 101 gm / Km - has the lowest CO2 emission amongst cars in India. The Tata Nano is BS-III compliant and is BS-IV ready. It is also available in BS-II norms.
Safety: The Nano's safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements - it passes the roll-over test and offset impact, which are not regulated in India. It has an all sheet-metal body, reinforced passenger compartment, crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, besides mandatory seat belts and complies fully with existing Indian safety standards. Tubeless tyres – among which the rear ones are wider endowing extra stability – enhance safety.
Warranty: 18 months or 24,000 Km, whichever is earlier.
Specifications of Nano
Booking Process
In view of the expected significant demand and limited production capacity initially until the Sanand plant is fully ramped up to capacity, the Tata Nano will be available through a booking mode.
Tata Motors has entered into an exclusive agreement with the State Bank of India to manage the booking process.
The sale of application forms and acceptance of booking will start from April 9th 2009 till the end of day April 25th 2009. The application forms will be available at a price of Rs.300, with a range of offers from select associate Tata Group companies. The application forms will be available at over 30,000 locations in about 1,000 cities through Tata Motors Passenger Car dealerships, State Bank of India and its branches, its subsidiaries and associates, other preferred financiers, and outlets of Westside, Croma, ‘World of Titan’ and Tata Indicom exclusive stores.
After collecting the forms, customers have two options. They can either pay the entire booking amount themselves or seek financing of the booking amount.
For those who seek financing, Tata Motors has entered into agreements with 15 preferred banks/NBFCs for the Tata Nano booking loan product. The booking product offered by these banks will enable a Tata Nano to be booked by paying an amount starting Rs.2999/- only. Their chosen
financier will directly submit their application forms to the State Bank of India on their behalf.
Those, who choose to themselves pay their entire booking amount, can submit their application forms to State Bank of India through 1,350 notified branches in 850 cites, and also at Tata Motors Passenger Car dealerships, Westside and Croma outlets.
Option to submit bookings online is available at www.tatanano.com
Within 60 days of the closure of bookings, Tata Motors will process and announce the allotment of 1,00,000 cars in the first phase of deliveries, through a computerised random selection procedure. These 1,00,000 allotments will be price protected for the launch prices till delivery of the cars but the booking amounts will not bear any interest for the customers. Deliveries will commence from July 2009
Applicants have the option to retain their booking deposit, even if they do not get allotment in the first phase. Those who choose this option will be eligible for interest on their deposit, effective from the date of announcement of allotment of the second phase, at a rate of 8.5% for retention period between one year to two year and 8.75% for a retention period of more than 2 years. Allotment of retainees will be simultaneously communicated, along with the allotment of the first 1,00,000 cars.
Preferred Financiers
Tata Motors has entered into agreements with 15 preferred banks/NBFCs for the Tata Nano booking loan product. The preferred financial institutions are: State Bank of India, Tata Motor Finance, State Bank of Patiala, ICICI Bank, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Indore, Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank, Federal Bank, Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, and the Central Bank of India. The updated list and details are available at www.tatanano.com
Merchandise & Accessories
Tata Nano comes with an attractive range of accessories and merchandise. The range of merchandise includes a Nano phone, Nano watch, T-Shirts, etc, and will be made available online at www.tatanano.com as well at all Tata Motors Passenger Car dealerships, Westside & Croma outlets.
Tata Indicom will also market the Nano phone and Titan the Nano watch. Accessories include alloy wheels, body kits, decals etc., to customise the Tata Nano to individual tastes. Details are available at www.tatanano.com.
1. TATA NANO 2. TATA NANO o Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata on Thursday unveiled the Tata Nano at the 9 th Auto Expo in New Delhi
on 10 th Jan 2008 o will be launched before Tata Motors next AGM (Annual General Meeting) i.e in the 2nd half of 2008. o Small - will seat four to five people and cheapest can in the world o scooter parts o Nano means small in the mother tongue of Ratan Tata. o Smallest and cheapest car in the world cost Rs 1,00,000 o Called as people’s car
3. FEATURES OF TATA NANO o PRICE- Rs 1 lakh, plus value-added tax (VAT) plus transport charges. o POLLUTION- lower than 2-wheelers. o SAFETY - the 623 cc, 33 HP petrol engine meets Bharat Stage-III emission norms and can also meet the
Euro 4 norms. o ENGINE- 623-cc petrol engine generating 33 bhp of power, a 30-litre fuel tank and 4-speed manual
gearshift , no power steering, front disk and rear drum brakes. The company claims mileage of 23 km per litre.
o The Nano will come in three variants -- standard and two deluxe models with AC. o FACILITY- air conditioning, The car's dashboard features just a speedometer, fuel gauge, and oil
light, does not have reclining seats or radio. The shock absorbers are basic. 4. 5. HOW IT WAS MADE FOR ONLY ONE LAKH o Make things small and lighter o Aluminum engine instead of cast iron o Rear engine – no requirement for link b/w engine and rear wheel o Tabular design instead of conventional rod design o Regular bulbs instead of long life bulbs o Plan to assemble the car at dealers’ workshop – cut logistics spends.
6. EMERGING RIVALS o Maruti-Suzuki will completely reskin Maruti 800 (similar to what the company recently did with Zen-Estilo)
next year. The company will rebrand it and even power it with a 600cc engine against the current 800cc. o The Munjal family behind Hero Honda, India's largest two wheeler maker, which is mulling a foray
into the four-wheeler segment .is said to be in talks with BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) for developing a 500cc small car to rival Tata’s one lakh car. Hero Group was reported to have been closely monitoring the Rs one lakh project by Tata Motors and learn from it to de-risk its own Endeavour.
o Renault Nissan is the first one to come up with a idea to rival Tata’s car it plans to produce a car priced at below $3,000 (Rs 1.30 lakh) in India. As Renault’s local partner Mahindra is not interested in making such a low cost car, Renault- Nissan may settle with india’s robust two wheeler manufacturer.
o Incidentally Bajaj is also planning to foray into four wheeler through a smart car. More are chances for a new JV between Bajaj and Renault – Nissan to rival Tata’s one lakh car.
o carmaker Honda Siel said it will enter into small-car segment with the launch of 'Jazz' in 2009. said in auto expo said honda siel india ltd. President.
o India’s lone electric vehicle maker is believed to be developing a small car based on its Reva platform for the redhot Rs 1-lakh car market. Reva’s one lakh car would be a four-seater , four-door model and will be powered by heavy batteries than its existing line-up and the new car can reach a top speed of 100-120kph (80kph for the current Reva products) . Reva’s low cost car is expected by 2010. The current Reva range comes in three variants priced in the range of Rs 3.3-4 .3 lakh in India.
o Chinese manufacturers like chery which are scouting to enter the indian market may use this opportunity for their debut since they already products in this price range. These subcompact car segment may also attract new indian players like ICML and Xenitis.
o Global auto a JV of Xentis Group and China’s Guangzhou Automobile Industry based in bengal plans to introduce a “people’s car that would be in sync with the affordability factor”. Xenitis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAIG to manufacture four-wheelers. The proposed xenitis small car is likely to go on sale by the end of October 2008. Global Auto has launched a motorcycle called Xpression early this year.
7. TATA NANO IS THREAT FOR o Two wheeler manufacturers o The country’s largest car manufacturer o used-car dealers - Second hand car buyers who spends between 1.5-2.5lakh may move easily for the new
Tata’s one lakh car. o Prominent small car players
8. NEGATIVE POINTS o Few disadvantages in a rear engine car: o uneven weight distribution and hence poor traction control o poor cornering and poor handling o poor engine cooling and hence more chance for engine overheating o almost no boot space and cramped space for rear passengers
9. NEGATIVE POINTS o More congested roads o More supply - More surplus as less export o More competition o Less margins o Low quality o High Real estate prices - parking space and parking charges will become more
10. WORLD’S 5 CHEAPEST CARS o 1. Cheapest cars Tata Nano
11. 2. Cheapest cars Chery QQ3 o city car marketed in 2003. In China, it is sold for 29,000-50,000 Remnibi, while internationally it is priced at
$5,000 . antilock brake systems, dual front airbags, power windows and a Euro-III compliant engine with air-conditioning.
12. 3. Cheapest cars Maruti 800 o Introduced in 1983, o 800cc engine, o great fuel efficiency and low maintenance cost. Tagged at $5,200 , it is available in both AC and non-AC
versions. 13. 4. Cheapest cars: Merrie Star o M ade by China-based Geely Automobile, four doors , riced at $5,500 , it was launched in 2005 engine size
ranging from 1.0 to 1.3 litres, Geely exports this model to Southeast Asia and Africa. 14. 5. Cheapest cars S-RV Mini SUV o L aunched in 1998, the HQ or Haoqing S-RV belongs to the HQ series by Geely Automobile, China. This
five-door, five-seater is very roomy, adjustable pitch seats, The basic model is priced at $5,780 . 15. FUTURE QUESTIONS o Can the Tata’s meet the expectations? o Will the one lakh car convey the india’s potential to the world? o Will Tata stick to its price tag? o Will it make sense for Tata to have a car when other players are moving to premium segments? o Will the more demanding customers like the low cost machine?
16. SOME MYTHS o Curtains replacing glass windows, removable bolt-on seats instead of the regular ones, roof will be an
optional add-on, and plastic body panels instead of the regular metal panels. Yes, Tata had talks with General Electric for using its re-engineered plastics for its low cost car and Tata may make use of modern adhesives instead of welding to cut down cost, but still there is no definite direction in this issue but certainly there will be no curtains. The one lakh car will be a complete car with definite roof and glass windows.
17. THANK _####,____,####' __"###,__,####' ___"####.####'_____,,,,,,,,,,, ____"######"____,########,,___####____,#### ______####_____#####""####,__####____#### ______####____,####____####_,####____#### ______####____,###,____####__,####___#### ______####_____'####,,####'____'####,,#### ______####_______"#####¸#"______"######" ¸.•?´¨`?•.¸¸.•?´¨`?•.¸¸.•?´¨`?•.¸¸.•?´¨`?•.¸¸.•?´¨`?•.
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History
Nano
The introduction of the Nano received media attention due to its targeted low price. The Financial Times reported:[19] "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." The car is expected to boost the Indian economy, create entrepreneurial-opportunities across India,[20][21] as well as expand the Indian car market by 65%[22]. The car was envisioned by Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, who has described it as an eco-friendly "people's car". Nano has been greatly appreciated by many sources and the media for its low-cost[23][24] and eco-friendly initiatives which include using compressed-air as fuel[25] and an electric-version (E-Nano).[26][27] Tata Group is expected to mass-manufacture the Nano, particularly the electric-version, and, besides selling them in India, to also export them worldwide.[28][29][30]
Critics of the car have questioned its safety in India (where reportedly 90,000 people are killed in road-accidents every year[31]), and have also criticised the pollution that it would cause[32] (including criticism by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chairman Rajendra Pachauri [33] ). However, Tata Motors has promised that it would definitely release Nano's eco-friendly models alongside the gasoline-model.[34][35]
The Nano was originally to have been manufactured at a new factory in Singur, West Bengal, but increasingly violent protests forced Tata to pull out October 2008. (See Singur factory pullout below.) Currently, Tata Motors is reportedly manufacturing Nano at its existing Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) plant and a mother plant has been proposed for Sanand Gujarat.[36] The company will bank on existing dealer network for Nano initially.[37] The new Nano Plant could have a capacity of 500,000 units, compared to 300,000 for Singur. Gujarat has also agreed to match all the incentives offered by West Bengal government.[38]
[edit] Design
Rear
A Tata Nano in silver
Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Tata Motors, began development of the world's cheapest production car in 2003,[39] inspired by the number of Indian families with two-wheeled rather than four-wheeled vehicles.[40] The Nano's development has been tempered[clarification needed] by the company's success in producing the low cost 4 wheeled Ace truck in May 2005.[39]
Contrary to speculation that the car might be a simple four-wheeled auto rickshaw, The Times of India reported the vehicle is "a properly designed and built car".[41] The Chairman is reported to have said, "It is not a car with plastic curtains or no roof — it's a real car."[39]
To achieve its design goals, Tata refined the manufacturing process, emphasized innovation and sought new design approaches from suppliers.[41] The car was designed at Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering — with Ratan Tata requesting certain changes, such as the elimination of one of two windscreen wipers.[39] Many components of the Nano are made in Germany by Bosch, such as Fuel Injection, brake system, Value Motronic ECU, ABS and other technologies.[42]
The Nano has 21% more interior space (albeit mostly as headroom, due to its tall stance) and an 8% smaller exterior compared to its closest rival, the Maruti 800. Tata offered the car in three versions: the basic Tata Nano Std; the CX; and the LX. The CX and LX versions each have air conditioning, power windows, and central locking. Tata has set its initial production target at 250,000 units per year.[citation needed]
[edit] Cost cutting features
The Nano's car boot does not open. Instead, the rear seats can be folded down to access the boot.[43][44]
It has a single windscreen wiper instead of the usual pair.[45]
It has no power steering.[46]
The base model has only three lug nuts on the wheels instead of the usual four.[47]
The base model has only one side view mirror.[48]
Some use of plastic and glue in place of welded steel [49]
Manually operated side windows [50]
Air conditioning/heating not part of base model [51]
Airbags not part of base model [52]
[edit] Price
Wikinews has related news: World's cheapest car launched in India, will go on sale in April
Tata initially targeted the vehicle as "the least expensive production car in the world"[12] — aiming for a starting price of 100,000 rupees or approximately US$2000 (using exchange rate as of 22 March 2009) [13][14] 6 years ago,[when?] despite rapidly rising material prices at the time.[53]
As of August 2008, material costs had risen from 13% to 23% over the car’s development,[54] and Tata faced[citation needed] the choice of:
introducing the car with an artificially low price through government subsidies and tax-breaks[citation needed]
forgoing profit on the car[citation needed]
using vertical-integration to artificially boost profits on cars at the expense of their materials industries[citation needed]
partially using inexpensive polymers or biodegradable plastics instead of a full metal-body[citation needed]
raising the price of the car[54]
[edit] Model versions
Base model
At its launch the Nano was available in three trim levels:[11]
the basic Tata Nano Std priced at 123,000 Rupees has no extras; the deluxe Tata Nano CX at 151,000 Rupees has air conditioning; the luxury Tata Nano LX at 172,000 Rupees has air conditioning, power windows, fabric seats
and central locking the Nano Europa, European version of the Tata Nano has all of the above plus a larger body,
bigger 3-cylinder engine, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and meets European crash standards and emission norms.
The base model will have fixed seats, except for the driver's, which will be adjustable,[clarification
needed] while the deluxe and luxury models will get air conditioning and body coloured bumpers.[55]
[edit] Technical specifications
The interior
According to Tata Motors, the Nano is a 35 PS (26 kW; 35 hp) car with a 624 cc rear engine and rear wheel drive, and has a fuel economy of 4.55 L/100 km (22 km/L, 51.7 mpg (US), 62 mpg (UK)) under city road conditions, and 3.85 L/100 km on highways (26 km/L, 61.1 mpg (US), 73.3 mpg (UK)). It is the first time a two-cylinder non-opposed petrol engine will be used in a car with a single balance shaft.[56] Tata Motors has reportedly filed 34 patents related to the innovations in the design of Nano, with the powertrain accounting for over half of them.[57] The project head, Girish Wagh has been credited with being one of the brains behind Nano's design.[57][58]
Much has been made of Tata's patents pending for the Nano. Yet during a news conference at the New Delhi Auto Expo, Ratan Tata pointed out none of these is revolutionary or represents earth-shaking technology. He said most relate to rather mundane items such as the two-cylinder engine’s balance shaft, and how the gears were cut in the transmission.
Though the car has been appreciated by many sources, including Reuters due to "the way it has tweaked existing technologies to target an as-yet untapped segment of the market", yet it has been stated by the same sources that Nano is not quite "revolutionary in its technology", just low in price.[59] Moreover, technologies which are expected of the new and yet-to-be-released car include a revolutionary compressed-air fuel system[60] and an eco-friendly electric-version,[26] technologies on which Tata is reportedly already working, though no official incorporation-date for these technologies in the new car has been released.
According to Tata, the Nano complies with Bharat Stage-III (similar to Euro-III) and can also meet Euro-IV emission standards.[61] Ratan Tata also said, 'The car has passed the full-frontal crash and the side impact crash'.[62] Tata Nano passed the required 'homologation’ tests with Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).This means that the car has met all the specified criteria for roadworthiness laid out by the government including emissions or noise & vibration and can now ply on Indian roads. Tata Nano managed to score 23.6 km per litre during its ‘homologation’ tests with ARAI.[2] This makes Tata Nano the most fuel efficient car in India. Nano will be the first car in India to display the actual fuel mileage figures it recorded at ARAI’s tests on its windshield. According to ARAI in the tests
the Nano conformed to Euro IV emission standards which will come into effect in India in 2010, yet it was only homologated to the Euro III level.[63]
[edit] Rear mounted engine
The use of a rear mounted engine to help maximize interior space makes the Nano similar to the original Fiat 500, another technically innovative "people's car". A concept vehicle similar in styling to the Nano, also with rear engined layout was proposed by the UK Rover Group in the 1990s to succeed the original Mini but was not put into production.[64] Once the project was taken over by BMW, the new Mini was much larger and technically conservative. The independent, and now-defunct, MG Rover Group later based their Rover CityRover on the Tata Indica.
Tata is also reported to be contemplating offering a compressed air engine as an option.[65]
Engine:
2 cylinder petrol with Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 33 horsepower (25 kW)
624 cc (38 cu i n)
Value Motronic engine management platform from Bosch
2 valves per cylinder overhead camshaft
Compression rati
o: 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 [2]
Torque: 48 N·m (35 ft·lbf) @ 3000 +/-
500 rpm [2]
Layout and Transmission
Rear wheel drive
4-speed manual transmission
Steering
mechanical rack and pinion w/o servo
Turning radius: 4 metres [2 ]
Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 km/h (37 mph): 8 seconds[
2]
Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)[2]
Fuel efficiency (overall): 23.6 kilometres per litre (4.24 litres per 100
kilometres (66.6 mpg-
imp; 55.5 mpg-US))[2]
Body and dimensions
Seat belt: 4[66]
Trunk capacity: 150 L (5.3 cu ft)[67]
Suspension, Tires & Brakes
Front brake: 180 mm drum [2]
Rear brake: 180
mm drum [2]
Front track: 1,325 mm (52.2 in)[2]
Rear track: 1,315 mm (51.8 in)[2]
Ground clearance: 180 mm (7.1 in)[2]
Front suspension:
McPherson strut with lower A arm
Rear suspension: Independent coil spring
12-inch wheels[6
8]
Supplier [69] Part/system [69]
Texspin Clutch Bearings
Bosch 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
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 Glazing
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
[edit] Variants
Tata Nano Europa, for Europe
Besides the regular and conventional petrol-variant,[35] the following variants are also expected:
[edit] Diesel
A website has reported that the Tata Nano might be made available with a 690cc diesel engine by September 2010.[70] Tata motors have not confirmed this yet have hinted that a diesel version will be introduced in the future. "As of now the Diesel variant is not offered. It will be offered only in Petrol now"[71]
[edit] Compressed-air engine
Tata Motors is working with a French firm on using compressed air as an energy source.[60] The company has tied up with Moteur Development International (MDI) for this purpose.[35]
[edit] Electric drivetrain or electric-version
Tata is also believed to be making an electric version of the Nano, called the E-Nano (reportedly with attached or sideby solar panels as well)[26][72] which might well turn out to be the "world's cheapest electric car"[73] which is more eco-friendly and has many enthusiasts and media for its support.[74] It's supposed to be as cheap as the conventional gasoline version. Tata is making the Nano compliant with export market regulations[75] and plans to export such a car worldwide, particularly to the UK and the rest of continental Europe,[28][29] the US,[76] and Australia.[30][77][78][79]
The Economic Times reported[80] that the "electric Nano" "would still make good sense for economic, clean and green personal mobility in countries around the world." According to the Hamburg-based newspaper, Auto Bild, the E-Nano would be built in cooperation with the Norwegian electric car specialist, Miljøbil Grenland AS.[81][82][83][84]
[edit] Hybrid
Leftlanenews reported that "a hybrid version [of Tata Nano] is also likely, although it is not yet known whether the electric motor will be paired with a gasoline or diesel version."[85]
mostlazy car=== Nano Europa === Tata Motors unveiled a version of the Nano mini-car called the Nano Europa at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The car will be coming to mainland Europe and the UK[86] and will have a number of improvements over the standard Nano. The Nano Europa has an increased wheelbase, a new 3-cylinder engine and improved interiors and exteriors. The Nano Europa will be more expensive, heavier, and less fuel economical than the standard Nano with prices said to be around the US$ 6000 mark.[87] The Nano Europa was heavily modified to meet European safety and emission standards.
[edit] Expectations
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2009.
According to one report, India as well as other European nations, have great expectations from the Nano and are keenly awaiting it, especially the electric version of the Nano,[88] making it in all probability the "world's cheapest electric car" officially on record.[73][89] The car itself is expected to boost the Indian Economy as well as expand the Indian car market by 65%, according to rating agency CRISIL.[22]
The Nano, already in production, has already been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's cheapest car.[89]
[edit] Potential effect on Indian economy
The Economic Times quotes:[22]
“
Tata Nano’s launch could expand the Indian car market by 65%, according to rating agency CRISIL. The low price makes the car affordable for families with incomes of Rs 1 lakh [100,000] per annum, the agency said. The increase in the market is expected to push up car sales by 20% over the previous year. “The unveiling of Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world, triggers an important event in the car market. Based on the statement by company officials, CRISIL Research estimates the consumer price of the car at around Rs 1.3 lakh. This brings down the cost of ownership of an entry level car in India by 30%,” the company said in a report. ”
[edit] Comparison to the Model T
Many have compared the Nano with Henry Ford's Model T built a century earlier, in 1908. While the Model T initially cost $850 (equivalent to $20,091 today), Ford refined the assembly line process and by the 1920s, the price of Ford's Model T had fallen to $290 (equivalent to $3,191 today)[90], comparable to the release price of the Nano at US$2,171 as of October 2009.
Livemint said:
“
Ford Motor Co. is rich because Henry Ford used the assembly-line to produce the Model T in 1908. Ratan Tata is a late entrepreneur, making the Nano in 2008.
India is 100 years behind. But we are waking up to the possibility of catching up. I just hope our planners wake up soon.[91]
”
Times of India also compared the Nano to the Model T:
“
This raises the question: How have the Tatas accomplished such a task? Pursuing this question a fascinating story unfolds that reminds one of Henry Ford's Model T that was built exactly one hundred years ago (September 1908). Ford wanted to make a car for the multitude, not for the elite, with the best material and the best design that the technology of his time could devise, and he wanted to make it, above all, at a price that was affordable. This is the example that Ratan Tata has followed with determination. When he announced the price of his car in an interview to the Financial Times during the Geneva Motor Show, his colleagues were 'aghast', but he had set his goal.[92]
”
[edit] Singur factory pullout
After much speculation, Tata Motors announced on May 19, 2006 that it will be manufacturing Tata Nano from Singur, West Bengal.[93] However, within a week protests were started by a few farmers in the area against the acquisition of their lands by Tata.[94] The cause was taken up by Mamata Banerjee, the leader of Trinamool Congress.[95] The situation
escalated with Tatas threatening to pull out,[96] and disruption of compensation for farmers who had volunteered to sell their land by anti-acquisition activists.[97] This was followed by a state-wide bandh by Trinamool Congress in October.[98] The government banned political parties from holding meetings or processions at Singur and installed a huge police force there.[99][100] There was widespread violence in the clashes between the police and the farmers on December 2, 2006.[101]
On December 4, 2006 Mamata Banerjee entered into a hunger strike. A 48-hour strike was later called by her to protest the death of Tapasi, a Save Farmland Committee campaigner, whose burnt body was found at the Nano plant site in Singur.[102] Two CPM activists were later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.[103] On the 24th day of her strike, Banerjee was given oxygen support and finally called off her fast after appeals from the then President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.[104]
As the protests over the land continued in 2007,[105] Ratan Tata accused that the competitors had a role in the controversy.[106] The acquisition of land was initially criticised in February 2007, but later approved by the Calcutta High Court in 2008.[107][108] As political unrest and rains hampered the construction, Tata Motors delayed the launch of Nano to September 2008.[109]
Violence continued throughout 2008 [110][111][112] and on September 2, 2008, Tata Motors announced that they have suspended work at Singur.[113] On October 2, 2008 Tata Motors announced that they are pulling out of Singur.[114] On October 7, 2008, it was announced that the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi had signed an MoU with Tata Motors for allocating land for Nano factory in Sanand in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat.[115]
[edit] Criticism, issues and problems
[edit] Questions of safety
The Nano has an all sheet-metal body made from Japanese and Korean steel,[116] with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat-belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tires are tubeless.[117]
[edit] Mass motorisation
As the Nano was conceived and designed around introducing the automobile to a sector of the population who are currently using eco-friendly bicycles and motorcycles, environmentalists are concerned that its extraordinarily low price might lead to mass motorization in countries like India and therefore possibly aggravate pollution as well as increase the demand for oil. The ecology focused German newspaper die tageszeitung feels that such concerns are "inappropriate" as the Tata Nano has lower emissions compared to the average Volkswagen, and that developing countries shouldn't be denied the right to motorized mobility when industrialized countries should be looking to reduce their emissions and usage of cars.[118] Die Welt reports that the car conforms with environmental protection, and will have the lowest emissions in India.[119]
In crowded metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Ratan Tata has conceived a scheme to only offer the Nano to those individuals who do not have an automobile already. The Nano will also
replace many overloaded and worn-out two-stroke polluting vehicles, both two and three-wheeled. According to Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, "the low-cost cars will be disastrous" in the current policy and regulatory framework.[60]
[edit] Used car market effects
The Nano is alleged to have severely affected the used car market in India, as many Indians opt to wait for the Nano's release rather than buying used cars, such as the Maruti 800 (a rebadged Suzuki Alto), which is considered as the Nano's nearest competitor. Sales of new Maruti 800s have dropped by 20%, and used ones by 30% following the unveiling of the Nano. As one automotive journalist summarises; “People are asking themselves—and us—why they should pay, say, 250,000 Rupees for a Maruti Alto, when they can wait and get a brand new Nano for less in a few months’ time, a car that is actually bigger”.[120]
[edit] Spontaneous fire
There have been 3 cases of spontaneous fires occurring inside the Nano out of the first 7,500 cars delivered. The fires have been traced to a short circuit in the combination switch that controls the headlights, windscreen wipers and indicators located in the steering column.[121]
[122] Technical experts have also blamed the placement of the battery for contributing to overheating in the wires, the failure of the circuit breaker in tripping during a short circuit episode, and the failure of the fuse to melt when excessive amperage (resulting from a short circuit condition) is detected in the circuit leading to heated wires.
[edit] Competitors
Main article: Economy car
Rival car makers including Bajaj Auto, Fiat, General Motors, Ford Motor, Hyundai and Toyota Motor have all expressed interest in building a small car that is affordable to more middle-class consumers in emerging markets. The bulk of demand there is for small cars because people are much more sensitive to fuel prices.[123]
Honda and Toyota are leading the way on so called cleaner gasoline-electric hybrids, and some environmentalists argue getting prices down on these technologies is where efforts should be concentrated.[123] Inexpensive and eco-friendly electric-cars like Tara Tiny (which has an engine producing 4 hp compared to Nano's 33 hp), Oreva Super (both reportedly even cheaper than Tata Nano) and REVA [124] pose even more significant danger to Nano. There are also rumors of Maruti Suzuki introducing a lower priced version of Alto to counter Tata Nano.[125]
[edit] Awards
Tata Nano won the Indian Car of the Year 2010 award at Business Standard Motoring Awards 2010
[edit] See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tata Nano
Automobile industry in India City car Girish Wagh - General Manager, Tata Motors Ltd. Kei car REVA Tara Tiny Indica Electric Transport in India
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