Indian Autos blog

While many think the Pixel concept will turn into a production ready car to sit at the bottom of Tata’s European lineup, Tata has other plans. The Nano Europa project is very much alive and kicking. Tata Motors group CEO Carl-Peter Forster to a German newspaper on the Nano’s chances in Europe- We don’t know yet. But it will certainly take two to three years The Nano is preparing itself  [ Read More ]

Because first of all we would like to satisfy local demand. We believe that it in its current and present form a car for developing markets. So we’re looking at specific developing markets. So if you’re living in one of these developing markets, Asia for example, possibly Africa,possibly Latin America, you might be able to buy …(in a year or two perhaps).

Carl-Peter Forster, Group CEO of Tata Motors remarks on the Tata Nano’s overseas journey. It appears like there will be two versions – a refurbished one for similar markets and an all-new one for developed markets.

The development of the Tata Nano Europa is underway and Tata would be launching the Nano Europa by 2012-13. It is official that the Nano Europa will come with a petrol variant, followed by an electric version.

The gasoline engine in the Tata Nano Europa could be a sub-1 liter 3-cylinder engine coaxing out 45bhp. Married to a 5-speed manual transmission, it is capable of returning 24 kilometers to a liter. This engine would produce CO2 emissions of less than 100 gm/km and in the process passing strict Euro 5 emission norms.

The Tata Nano Europa EV is also going to be launched alongside the petrol variant. The Nano Europa EV would come with an electric motor capable of producing 55bhp and achieving a top speed of 120kmph.

The range of the Nano Europa EV is said to be a very respectable 150 kilometers on one full charge. Charging time for the batteries is around 6 hours. The Nano EV would is certainly heading to Spain.

The million dollar question is: would Tata upgrade or modify the Indian Tata Nano when the Nano Europa is fully developed? Would the Indian Nano get more refined powertrains? If Tata doesn’t offer additional options and refinement, then the Nano and the Europa would become totally different cars which looking similar.

Though the cost of the Nano Europa is almost double the Nano, differences between the cars are huge – the Europa is way safer and gets more capable engines and transmissions.

The Tata Nano is a low cost car and we can’t complain much about quality issues. But when it comes to the car’s reliability (that is the longevity of the car), rattling noises, brake lock-ups and the finer details, it leaves a lot to be desired from the Nano.

Tata Motors would have a chance to correct these glitches in the Indian Nano when the Nano Europa is ready, but if Tata chooses to ignore them, we will have to wait for the Tata Nano Mark II to see a better Nano, just like how the Indica and Sumo Grande panned out.

The Tata Nano would certainly be cheap, but not all that value-for-money.

Our friends over at Autoblog Spanish have confirmed to us that the Tata Nano Europa will cost € 4,000 in Spain next year. As we reported earlier, Tata’s present at the Barcelona show with a host of cars and announced the Nano’s price during the car’s presentation, just minutes ago. The car will be available in the market by the end of 2010.

In addition to that, the Indica Vista will go on sale with a 71 hp DICOR engine that’s not offered here in India. A 75hp Multijet engine and 86hp SAFIRE (petrol) engine will also be listed in the Spanish brochure.

The 2009 Barcelona Motor Show (which will be held in Barcelona ) has the Audi Q3 prototype on display to gather crowds and journalists. The other star attraction of the show will be at the Tata stall. Yep, the Nano Europa is going to Barcelona next week. The show begins on the 9th and goes on till the 17th.

Interpress Motor reports apart from the 3-cylinder Nano Europa, the Indica Vista EV, Sumo Grande, Safari, Xenon, Ace Electric and the Indigo will be present.

Are they referring to the Indigo Vista? Or will they display the normal Indigo? I remember Tata choosing Bologna in 2007 to unveil the Safari 2.2 VTT. I wonder if they’ll show the Indigo Vista in Barcelona.

Surprise surprise! We are very impressed with the European version of the Nano dubbed the Tata Nano Europa, and we already knew this car was going to be on display; the electric version of the Indica Vista was also expected, as it will take part in an electric demonstration program in Norway, but the Tata Prima luxury sedan, which will meet a production line in the future, is the rabbit in Tata’s hat at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.