Filed under: Emerging Technologies, MPG, Nissan, India
Tata's $2,500, 59-mpg offering described as "eco-car," on display in January
New details are coming out about Rs 1-lakh, Tata Group's $2,500 car, and the details are very green. According to the India Times, RA Mashelkar, an independent non-executive director on the Tata Motors board, says the Rs 1-lakh is an "eco-car" and it will get 59 miles per gallon. Here is the exact quote:
It's an eco-car with a 25 km-per-litre mileage on petrol, meets every international standard and specification, including Euro-4 norms. Acceleration wise, it's the same as a Maruti 800.
FYI; 25 km per litre converts to 58.8 miles per gallon. In the past, Tata has said its $2,500 car, which is due for release next June and will be on display next month, will be the cleanest in the world. Tata also has plans to make a compressed air and fuel cell car but most greens are not happy because dropping the price for a car so dramatically will mean an increase in the number of cars and, likely, more pollution.
Nissan may import the car to the United States or Europe, so the question is, might you buy the 59 miles per gallon $2,500 car in 2008?
Related:
[Source: India Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
mike 6:19PM (12/19/2007)
I'd wait for the crash tests.
But, yes, at that price it would sell.
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scootinoldskool 6:29PM (12/19/2007)
They ought to sell these at Wal-Mart
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remo 6:34AM (3/07/2009)
At last it will be in the market by the end of April
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PJD 11:52PM (12/19/2007)
Somehow, I have a feeling it wouldn't sell at that price. I think most Americans are far to status conscious to admit that they paid that little for a car. Many people pay more than that for a bike, just because they can and want to show that fact off.
If they want to sell this here they need to jack up the price by 4x and market it as an eco-status symbol.
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Wildgoosechase 1:51AM (12/20/2007)
I hope it has a rear window defroster so it keeps your hands warm when you push it.
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GenWaylaid 2:12AM (12/20/2007)
Can someone please tell me how much a "lakh" is? For that matter, how much is a "crore"? I don't understand why numbers can't translate.
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Mack 2:22AM (12/20/2007)
"They ought to sell these at Wal-Mart"
I bet most car dealers had such a vehicle. As it is
Wal-Mart may in fact be the place where you buy such a vehicle.
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Domenick 8:21AM (12/20/2007)
@GenWaylaid:
It isn't that simple. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakh
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MarkR 8:44AM (12/20/2007)
"I hope it has a rear window defroster so it keeps your hands warm when you push it."
You crack me up wild goose LOL, funny. The car reminds me of the UGO(sp?) a friend had. We (the football team) would challenge each other to see who could grab it by the back bumper and see how may squats we could do without letting the rear tires touch the ground. Then we'd prank him and 6-8 of us would grab the car by the wheel wells and bumpers, pick it up and put it on a median that was about 2' high that he wouldn't be able to drive off of. Good times.
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Alex 9:28AM (12/20/2007)
Hell, yes i would buy it. All i want is a cheap, fuel efficient car to drag my butt to work in when the motorcycle is out of the question.
I don't care about the "status" the car associates me with. I have an antique Jaguar in the garage if i need to feed my ego.
Hell, at that price i wouldn't even insure it beyond what the state mandates (which isn't much). No, considering it a throw away car is not green, but neither am i. I'm just cheap.
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Guenther 9:32AM (12/20/2007)
For $2500, S#it yeah! I don't care how crappy it is. Can't be any less safe than a motorcycle, and I can drive this when it rains- I can, right? its not made out of paper-board, right? Walmart would be the perfect place to sell these, since many have an auto service center already. It's be sweet to have someone pull it off the rack at Sam's Club with a forklift. Not a new Idea. I think it was the Romanian Overlander that was supposed to be serviced through the Penske Auto centers at K-Mart.
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macmanic 11:08AM (12/20/2007)
For $2500 it's close to being considered a "disposable" vehicle- which could make it bad news for the environment. I like the MPG but hope the company would build it with enough quality that fixing it would more likely be the owner's default choice should it breakdown or be involved in a fender bender. I remember the Yugo which was priced about $7-9k (I think) and was such a POS that, even at that price became a vehicle people threw away instead of fixed...
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Mtnskier 2:36PM (12/25/2007)
Just rebadge it and call it the SmartFour, and people would be standing in line.....
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Mike 2:39PM (12/25/2007)
Is this a reincarnation of the Subaru 360. A friend of mine and I took turns test driving the original Sub in Bellingham Wa. We also both came close to wrecking it, we were laughing so hard.
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Susie 2:41PM (12/25/2007)
Oh yea, another throw away just like the Chevy Geo.
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David 2:43PM (12/25/2007)
I want one! My car is eleven years old and being on disability, my chances of affording any other vehicle are zilch. I like the looks and fuel economy.
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Loros Saladino 2:44PM (12/25/2007)
It won't sell for $2,500. Tarrifs and greedy American dealerships will trip over themselves trying to rip the public off. Everytime a car is developed at a reasonable price, dealers price it out of sight! These SOBs need to be reigned in by government controls. Times have changed and protectionism is dead.
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doc 3:01PM (12/25/2007)
for $2500 i'd get a new one whenever the gas tank is empty...no, seriously, every 6 months, your driving a new car, and if one of the local dweebs runs over it, no big deal.
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saltnpeppa 3:04PM (12/25/2007)
it wont sell for 2500 over here unless its made here. did you see the part that they MAY be IMPORTED? importing 1 single car is thousands in taxes fees etc. that price is going to get tacked onto the car.
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Ed 3:15PM (12/25/2007)
soup it up, put some fancy wheels, and a good stereo, and some buzz pipe exhaust on it and it will be the rage!!!
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