Mumbai is a happening city, and along affluent Marine Drive, and elsewhere in the more prosperous southern part of town, it's not unusual to see a Rolls-Royce, Range Rover or Porsche cruising down a busy street. But when I was recently in town, the hottest set of wheels, driven by Mumbai's trend-setting elite, was India's very own Tata Nano.
Although it's been on sale for just over a year, the Nano is still a fairly rare sight. Production has been limited, pending the recent inauguration (in June) of the main factory in Gujarat. When that comes on full stream, the dream of Tata chairman Ratan Tata — to motorise the half of the world that Henry Ford forgot — should be realised.
Early buyers have been (mostly affluent) early adopters, keen to get a slice of Indian motoring history. But now that the new factory is starting to pump out Nanos, the baby Tata will likely soon become as commonplace in urban India as street stalls, saris, sandals and scooters.
I drove inland from Mumbai to Pune to meet Girish Wagh, head of Tata small car engineering, and to drive a Nano. The Nano is famous for being the world's cheapest car — just one lakh (100,000 rupees) or about £1,500. It is aimed at India's burgeoning middle class, who currently use a motor scooter (it was the sight of a family of four perched precariously on a small motorcycle that first inspired Ratan Tata) or a smoky old Fiat or Morris, or do without motorised transport entirely.
Ratan Tata hopes eventually to sell up to a million a year in India — that would make the Nano the world's best-selling car. Future export markets include Southeast Asia and Africa, with European sales likely to start in 2013. UK buyers are expected to be a mix of the cost-conscious, the image-conscious (attracted by the fresh style) and the eco-conscious, mindful of the 60mpg economy.
Driving a Nano, and talking to Girish Wagh, reinforced my belief that this is the first car of genius — many more will follow — introduced by the developing world. It is cheap not just because of low Indian labour rates. Rather, it is amazingly inexpensive, and astonishingly space- and resource-efficient, because of Tata's 'think different' approach.
The low price demanded Tata use materials as sparingly as possible, and also required an innovative engineering approach. The upshot is a small and amazingly light car, in an age characterised by automotive obesity. The Nano weighs just 600kg (635kg in 'luxury' spec), about half the weight of a new Mini. It is astonishingly roomy — plenty of space for four adults — yet just over three metres long.
No car since the original Mini has devoted so much of its footprint to carrying people. The rear two-cylinder engine — under the back seat — and rear wheel drive (same as a two-seat Smart car) help space efficiency. It also helps reduce complexity (no need for power steering, as mass is reduced over the front wheels) and total weight (the rear motor means a much shorter exhaust). Many parts, from the Electronic Control Unit (the engine's electronic brain) to the fuel pump, are miniaturised and simplified. The tiny wheels reduce cost and cabin space intrusion.
The European version will get more power, extra safety equipment and bigger brakes. Needless to say, it will cost more than £1,500 but will still handsomely undercut bargain-basement cars currently coming from Korea.
Gavin Green is a motoring journalist and consultant
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