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"Tata small car set to offer 25 kmpl mileage"!!

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Written By blrsri - 19 December, 2007

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KOLKATA: Ratan Tata and the Tata group have for months zealously kept a tight lid on the details of the Rs 1-lakh car that is slated to roll out of Tata Motors’ Singur factory in June 2008. But on Tuesday, the shroud came off in singular circumstances. “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.” That’s exactly how RA Mashelkar, former CSIR director general, who is now an independent non-executive director on the Tata Motors board, chose to describe the Rs 1-lakh small car on Tuesday. He was recounting his recent ride on the prototype at the Tata Motors’ Pune plant. “It’s a tool for inclusive growth,” Mr Mashelkar said in Kolkata on Tuesday. He was speaking here on ‘Resurgence of Innovative India: The Phenomenon and the Consequences,’ organised jointly by East India Pharmaceutical Works and The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. Mr Mashelkar also revealed how the small car concept first struck Ratan Tata, who’s now in the race to acquire two iconic British brands — Jaguar and Land Rover. “You know how ‘Ratan’ (Ratan Tata) thought about this small car. He talked to me on several things. One day, he was going on the road and saw a family of four getting soaked in the rain. That was when he decided to create a small car for all,” he said. “Just a month ago, I was at the Tata Motors’ factory in Pune, talking to their engineers and their fantastic team there. It was there that I had the privilege of sitting in that small car — the Rs 1-lakh car that they plan to roll out at Singur. It is incredible,” said Mr Mashelkar. “I sat in that car by the way, and it was amazing,” he said. “I am a six footer and it’s spacious both in the front and in the rear. In terms of acceleration, it is equivalent to a Maruti 800 and has an incredible design finished by indigenous Tata Motors’ engineers,” Mr Mashelkar added. Talking on the potential of economics of this car, the top-notch scientist said: “It will create a paradigm shift in low-cost transport and the whole world is looking forward to a car that efficiently runs 25 km on a litre of petrol and offers international specifications. These kind of fuel-efficient cars will be in demand as pollution is on the rise, climates are changing and fossil fuels are running out. People are looking at a new global eco-car and I have a feeling that this can be the new eco-car not only in the country but elsewhere — in other countries. I feel a sense of pride that it will be manufactured in India.” “In a bid to reduce weight of the car, Tata Motors’ engineers have used more plastics. The car does not use too many bolts which also helps in reducing weight. Instead, it’s all a new kind of welding — a new technology altogether,” said Mr Mashelkar when asked on the specifics of the design. “I got into a prototype and they had asked me to drive it, but I was a little scared as I have not been driving all these days. They wanted to show me their innovation as I am involved in innovation. The project is extremely close to my heart,” he added. Mr Mashelkar further said, “Every other company manufactures products for the top of the income bracket pyramid and I am concerned about middle, lower middle and the bottom of this pyramid. The issue is how do we create products for them and, therefore, the Rs 1-lakh car is like the dream as far as I am concerned.” About the general scepticism that the car would initially be priced at Rs 1 lakh which could later be raised, Mr Mashelkar said: “The way their engineers have been able to design it and style it to meet specifications — it is absolutely incredible. It does not look like the Indica and they have styled it differently, it has a sloping front. It can bring a transformation in low-cost transportation around the world. These days people are looking for products that will meet standards, safety norms and still offer comfort. With great concerns on climate change, depleting fossil fuels, pollution more green and clean products will come from India. Products that meet performance standard and price expectations will succeed.” ----------------------------------------------- Implications for the Bangalore roads?? I cant imagine! Btw the car sounds like the 'Dolphin', does anyone remember the old car? think was made in Bangalore. Sounds like the 'model T', where the production line would produce onlyblack/white cars to meet the demand..also looks like the auto's will go off the road soon!

COMMENTS

another ad !

bangalore-guy - 18 June, 2008 - 13:29

Admins pls delete the above post by nick. This sure is an ad for the link to double glazing website. He has been  on praja for just 32 mins !!

 

http://clean-and-green.blogspot.com

Car Car Car Yelnodi Car

Vasanth - 19 December, 2007 - 15:53

Car Car Car Yelnodi Car - This will become the slogan for most of the Indian cities. Even now, used M800, esteem and zens are available within 1 Lakh - but it is the mileage which is going to make the big difference. I don't know what will be the fate of Bangalore with so many cars coming on roads of Bangalore along with the existing mixed traffic of 2 wheelers, autos, buses and trucks. Imagine Bannerghatta Road, imagine Old Madras Road, imagine mall traffic on weekends with all these cars. Economic reform which increased the average earning capacity of Indian is only choking our infrastructure which lead people to migrate from small cities (especially from other states) to Bangalore and ultimately blaming Bangalore. The attitude of a good earning professional in Bangalore is to have a fancy car, drive to work place , roam around the city with A/C and music system on enjoying life, go to fancy malls on weekends, zoom to nearest cities during weekends breaking the speed records.Most of the people say 'Car is the safest - why don't you bring one / why don't you use car daily for those who are using office transport / Why are you using 2 wheeler, it is not safe'. With this kind of thinking more number of cars are getting onto Bangalore roads. Ofcourse, it is needed for a family drive along with kids and during emergencies. Actual fact and my experience with my car is - city driving is too slow with a car and a mere fuel waste. To my office my car consumes almost 2 litres of petrol a day for 22 kms - a whooping 100 rupees. On the other hand, with my fuel efficient bike it costs only 15-20 rupees saving of almost 1.5 litres of petrol and nearly 80 rupees. Coming to timing, on my bike I reach office comfortably within 25 minutes and in a car it takes whooping 45 minutes with hits on my car by bikewalas, rikshawalas most prominently. Daily fights on the way and by the time I reach office, I will be an angry man. In the office also, lot of parking space is occupied by cars with around 45-50 cars occupying the space of almost 400 2 wheelers. Recently my company started transport and I have started using that which is the most comfortable forgetting the traffic and it costs only 500 rupees a month compared to car which is 500 rupees a week. It is the people who have to get their thinking right and come out of this 'Car Manufacturer's' attractive traps.

For God's sake, Give India a break

gowda - 19 December, 2007 - 16:23

I don't feel the policy makers at Tata have any other thing on their mind except making a quick buck. At a time when people are buying cars when the average cost is around 3 lakhs, do you think a 1 lakh car would serve any other purpose than clog the already messed up roads. Yesterday there was a segment on CNBC (USA) on if/how people can make money by investing in India. Bangalore and Infosys was mentioned in the same breath and Infosys apparently spent around $8 mil ferrying its employees. One of the sticking points, you guessed it right, was the amount of time people spent in traffic (about 4 hours). Now i know you can't stop companies like Tata from making cars cheaper or stop people from buying cars but companies like Tata; being the grand daddy of them all; should be more responsible. If they (or any indian car company) come out with a hybrid car i bet there would be more excitement among the consumers, more revenue for the company and spare the environment. It is a win-win situation for everyone. The government should reduce the allowable emissions every couple of years and challenge the companies to adhere likewise. Anyways I don't think there are active policy makers/politicians from our generation to make it dynamic.

Hybrid car will reduce only emission but not congestion

Vasanth - 19 December, 2007 - 16:30

Hybrid car will ofcourse reduce emission, but not the congestion of our roads - It may add instead. As discussed by everyone in the blog, we need effective and environmental friendly guided public transportation and people should use it effectively by leaving their vehicles at home. Ofcouse, all the cars in future needs to be made hybrid to reduce emissions. Probably hybrid buses on BRTS lanes would be the best option for smaller unchoked cities.

we need some of these

narayan82 - 18 June, 2008 - 13:38

I don't see why India isn't thinking ahead? Are we being monopolized by other petroleum country's.

This product from Honda the FCX Clarity is very encouraging.

We need to be a city that thinks ahead. For all our good! We need to encourage alternative more efficent meens of transport.

 As stated elsewhere in this forum, building Elevated Roads and Flyoveres is hardly a solution. Else, we can forget in investing in those fancy child education loanns - they will hardly be a planet for them to live in!

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