When Tata developed the Nano, the global automotive industry held its breath. The task of making the world's cheapest car was a tall order, but unfortunately that tag didn't go down with buyers too well. The car faced trouble before its factory was even setup and was then marred by bad press after multiple incidents of Nanos catching fire. However, Tata has come out stronger on the other side of all this and now may even offer an automatic transmission.
The Tata Nano has not fared very well thus far.
In an exclusive interview with Autocar Professional, Girish Wagh, senior VP – Programme Planning & Project Management (Passenger Vehicles Business Unit), Tata Motors said, "Yes, we are evaluating all these options and what will help to further strengthen the position as a smart city car,"
Jay Leno with the Tata Nano
Tata just launched the Nano Twist on January 13th, 2014. The car came with the new 'Electric Power Assisted Steering' (EPAS), backed by brushless motor technology and Active Return feature. The Twist comes with a new Damson Purple signature colour with barley beige interiors and chrome accents. Clearly Tata has had a change of heart and will bring the Nano up by making it a value for money car instead of a cheap car.
The Tata Nano Twist was launched on Jan 13th 2014
The Nano was built to be a city car that could be easily accessed by consumers. With the sharp rise in traffic numbers coupled with constant developmental projects, manual gear-boxes are getting less desirable by the day. Particularly for regular commuters who spend several hours in traffic. The Nano automatic may come with a CVT or a more cost-effective automated manual transmission (AMT).
The Maruti Suzuki Celerio has already made use of the "EZ-Drive" gearbox. Not only will this make the car more easy to use, but reports say that a car using this gearbox can deliver a fuel economy that is better than a regular manual shifter by a good 5%.
The Nano Twist is the smallest car in the country with a power steering
Over the years, features such as air-conditioning and power windows have become standard options on several models. With the Nano Twist, the Nano has become the most affordable car with power steering. The addition of an automatic could make it another first for the Nano. This will help Tata attract buyers who aren't necessarily on a tight budget, but just want a small and nippy city car with an auto-box.
Tata is trying to offer as many options on the Nano as possible
Source: Autocar Professional
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