The Tata Nano is sprouting new variants in its global ambitions and to fend off the competition. Even before the little Basmati burner ramps up to large-scale production in its new dedicated factory, and possible franchise manufacturers take the bait, news of its offshoots never ends. Tata is managing the Nano brand’s exposure just fine. Lets start with the ultimate in mixed metaphors, the Darth Vader helmet-inspired “Design”:
According to a story in NYTWheels, DC Design, a tuner/customizer in Pune, India is showing this prototype of a their modified Nano arriving in early 2010. A massive front grill, blistered fenders, alloy wheels and over-sized air intakes are delicately integrated into the Nano’s design in a notably tasteful way.
“The world’s cheapest car has thrown up a few interesting scenarios,” said Dilip Chhabria, founder of D.C. Design. “Firstly, we think the world’s cheapest car does have a lot of sex appeal – in fact its silhouette of one sweeping arc is quite unparalleled and lends itself to customization.”
Battista Pinin Farina couldn’t have said it better himself. Moving along:
According to South Korea’s Maeil Business Paper, the Nano’s pater Ratan Tata has confirmed a hybrid version. The battery pack, to be supplied by Eveready, consists of 5,867 rechargeable AAA cells. Just kidding. No details were offered. We’ve been hearing reports about the diesel version for some time.
Harder facts are being confirmed about the coming Nano Europa. Autocar was given a tour and photo-op of the definitive Euro-spec Nano, due on the continent in 2011. The crash and safety worthy Europa is likely to cost from £4000 – £5000 in the UK. It will feature a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, of about 60 hp (Indian version has a 35 hp twin). The Europa will also be upgraded to a five-speed stick (the Indian version is four-speed) for better highway-speed gearing, improved fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions. Europa models will also get ABS, traction control, electric power steering and twin airbags. And a US version? Stay tuned.
WOW, quite the gaping maw you’ve got there Nano.
Yep, it’s just what you need for a krill-powered vehicle…
yeah, nice grille for an engine that isn’t there
Early Nanos will become collector’s items someday, just as the Honda N600 has. These guys could become big players in the US.
Maybe this company could design them, if they could make them cheap enough.
http://www.batesville.com/web/guest/whatwedo/burialcaskets/wood/newclassicsveneer
Hell on wheels…!
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4090345
Hell on wheels…!
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4090345
Hell on wheels…!
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4090345
Hell on wheels…!
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4090345
sorry for the multiple posts! Browser stuck and kept hitting button…oops!
Slap a wing on the back and a screamin’ chicken on the front.
The return of Pontiac!
The Force is not with that horrific-looking car, but I think a lightsaber applied appropriately could do wonders.
I’ll believe it when these things are finally rolling off the assembly line. The buildup of this is nearly as bad as the Volt and Karma. Where are the cars?
They’re making ’em as fast as they can. They just don’t yet have the new big dedicated factory on-line yet to crank them out in really big numbers.
Paul-
An appropriately very funny post.
But I think the design is more inspired by Darth Helmet from Spaceballs.
I gotta believe that would be one bitchin’ head-turner on the streets of Mumbai, tho.
The scary thing is I don’t HATE it. My only question is how much snow could I plow with that front end before forward progress halts?
Hold up, you could be on to something here . . . maybe bobcat should get into the sub-sub compact market.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skid_loader
Hear me out! They’d only have to go up to about 45mph (that’s the fastest I’ve seen the hundreds of prius’ driving in the 65 zones during rush hour), MPG wouldn’t have to be all that great, and you could sell them for $15k.
They’d make a forutune!
Finally the Pontiac Aztec has lost it’s stature as the world’s ugliest car. Nice job Nano — there’s a good job waiting for the designer of this POS at the RenCen.
No goofy cars allowed!
The only way this car could be any uglier is if it were larger.
“I am the walrus?”
“Don’t you think the joker laughs at you?”
My first thought it looks like a Lamborghini. Now what did you say was under the hood?
My first thought is it looks like a Lamborghini. Now what did you say was under the hood?
Did somebody start an Ugliest Car Contest? Outside of that I can’t think of why someone would deliberately design a car that looks like that.
The Freudian quote of the day – “The world’s cheapest car has *thrown up* a few scenarios,”
If nano arrives in USA and sells I would respectfully ask VW to revive beetle. Not the golf beetle, a real, 1800 lb one with 50 modern hp.
Its’ got something of a “bullet train” appearance. But is it a balloon? or did they merely make it out of a giant bean bag and just sew the doors shut on the side?
That said…I kind of like it. “The car of shame”. You have to drive one of these for a month if you are caught driving slowly in the left lane. Your friends will flee, your children will cry out in fear, and your wife will hide her face in her hands…