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Top Seven Features that Made Tata Nano World's Cheapest Car
World’s cheapest car Tata Nano is finally here after surmounting all the allegations and doubts. Sadly for its critics, who booed at it, has proved them wrong on many counts. It comes close to stake claim on the world brightest idea in the recent days. It reflects the strength and determination of its creator Mr. Ratan Tata, who despite all odds turned his dream car into a reality. He had made the world to look up and notice India as a giant car market.
But how did Ratan Tata achieved the Rs 1 Lakh mark which was earlier impossible? Rightly, he went in for cost cutting, but how would that translate in to such a low price? While other car companies developed the car and then think of the price, Tata Motors had to work the other way around. They eventually created a wonder car without compromising on the basics of a car technology. Let’s take a look on how Mr. Tata and his team framed their budget for the car.
But how did Ratan Tata achieved the Rs 1 Lakh mark which was earlier impossible? Rightly, he went in for cost cutting, but how would that translate in to such a low price? While other car companies developed the car and then think of the price, Tata Motors had to work the other way around. They eventually created a wonder car without compromising on the basics of a car technology. Let’s take a look on how Mr. Tata and his team framed their budget for the car.
The Engine
Engine is the heart of a car that make mainly supports its mobility. Even the most simplest of the engines in the world are quite complicated. The evolution of engine technology is required to generate power, ensure fuel efficiency, and make no sound at all. Nowadays engines are governed by computers too. This composite work of mechanics also makes it very expensive. So it has been in the case of Tata Nano. But they are to adhere to a price! The German company Bosch came forward to build a low cost but effective engine. Bosch created an engine control unit with half the number of sensors which will deliver all the basic engine works perfectly. When this was tested on Nano, it functioned very well. The engine delivers a healthy 32 bhp power and an average 20 km/l mileage. This was just one of the solutions for the powertrain by Bosch.
Powertrain Placement
The Nano is powered by a four stroke 624 cc engine. The engine design has been patented by Tata Motors during the Nano project. It is the first such car to be equipped with single counterbalance motor. The engine has fuel injection and it also has a two valve single overhead cam design, just like the other cars. They also found a unique way to mount it on the ultra-small car. This rear mounted engine configuration is not new, but it has been utilized only by a few companies like Ferrari and Porsche. But rear engines are hard to engineer and is not liked by many car manufacturers. It is considered very cost effective too. Normally in a rear engine and rear wheel drive format a drive shaft is needed to steer the car in desired direction.
The Tata Nano design cleverly engulfs the powertrain giving no hit about its placement. This is placed under the rear seats, the engine can be accessed by folding down the rear seats and opening the lid. Actually, it is pretty hard to access the engine every time you want to. It has to be done through the rear hatch door. It also suggests that it is highly reliable when it comes to breakdowns. The skillfully place engine compartment helps add 21 percent more cabin space than even Maruti 800. It provides an enormous interior space to help accommodate passengers of comfortably into the cabin.
The Tata Nano design cleverly engulfs the powertrain giving no hit about its placement. This is placed under the rear seats, the engine can be accessed by folding down the rear seats and opening the lid. Actually, it is pretty hard to access the engine every time you want to. It has to be done through the rear hatch door. It also suggests that it is highly reliable when it comes to breakdowns. The skillfully place engine compartment helps add 21 percent more cabin space than even Maruti 800. It provides an enormous interior space to help accommodate passengers of comfortably into the cabin.
The Dashboard
The instrumentation on the dashboard is very basic in nature. It is cute, but it has clever designing too. The centre console holds the instrument cluster eliminates the need to replace it with a new dash for left and right hand drives. The instrumentation includes speedometer, odometer, and a digital fuel gauge with backlights for nighttime visibility, which makes it a complete set on its own. The curved edges of the dash enhance safety in times of collision. The dashboard also houses to cubby holes that ensure that all personal stuff is take car off. The plastic is hard yet functional for Nano.
Single Mirror
Tata Motors does not offer a mirror on the left hand side of the car. Cars in India have ever tried this before considering the safety of passengers. But in the west, some luxury car manufacturers have offered specially designed mirrors as an option. For those who cannot do with it, the mirror is offered as an optional accessory. Again, the fuel filler cap is located under the nose rather than the body sides. It will reduce the need to create CNG and LPG cars separately. By removing the fuel filler cap and by not boring holes onto the sides, Tata has reduced costs.
Light Weight Body
This is where Tata has cut cost enormously. It has designed an extremely lightweight body with an upper monocoque frame sitting pretty on the chassis firmly. Tata devised a unique method to seal a monocoque frame to the chassis. The light gauge metal body and the reduction of waste in production process makes effective use of funds allocated for the Nano. However, the company safety of passengers is not ignored. The steel frames have crumple zones and intrusion resistant doors. The front bonnet can hold a spare tyre.
Wiper
A single piece windshield is bonded into the A-pillar. It holds a single wiper. The story of the wipers is well publicized after Mr. Ratan Tata asked engineers to reduced wiper count further to lower the cost. Hence the tall single wiper which gives it a neat look. The company stressed that the single wiper should not affect visibility, hence its design is practical.
Small Wheels
Tata Nano achieves its tall boy looks partly because of its small wheels. The car was designed to use small wheel to roll on. Small wheels are lighter which helps provide high performance and better ride quality. These wheels are mounted in only three lugs in contrast with multiple lugs design. The wheel become lighter too, which means easy maneuverability. Further, the tyres sizes vary from front to the rear. The treads on the rear wheels are falter than the front ones. This helps balance the vehicle in case of an impact. It also allows a mild understeer at high speeds which is again a safety feature. Nano has a rear ward weight bias too because of the engine. This can pose a slight problem while cornering at high speeds where the rear of the car will behave unlike the front end. This is where the understeer helps balance the vehicle and provides a natural ride.
The use of plastic for the bumpers and the lower part of side doors, help considerably reduce dependency on steel. There are beading, hinges and locks which also reduce the cost significantly. The non-opening rear hatches are also some of the places that Tata has reduced costs.
The use of plastic for the bumpers and the lower part of side doors, help considerably reduce dependency on steel. There are beading, hinges and locks which also reduce the cost significantly. The non-opening rear hatches are also some of the places that Tata has reduced costs.
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