Tata Nano Diesel To Deliver 94 MPG, Non-EPA
The Tata Nano is the world’s cheapest gasoline powered car and we already wrote our review on it here. Soon the Nano will take the honors of being the world’s cheapest diesel car.
Tata Motors is working on a diesel version of the Nano, which is being developed with Bosch. The turbocharger on the Nano is one of the smallest ever seen and is being made by Honeywell. The diesel Nano is powered by a 800cc, twin-cylinder diesel engine which is expected to produce a power output of 35 hp and a torque output of 70 Nm. These figures might look anemic, but one should not forget the Nano weighs just 615 kgs (the diesel Nano should weigh around 670 kgs).
But its not the turbocharger or the power which is the most exciting part about the diesel Tata Nano. Company insiders have informed us that Tata Motors is targeting a consumption of 40 kilometers per liter with the diesel Nano. Using a straight line and definitely non-EPA conversion, this would translate to 94 MPG. It would make the diesel Nano even cheaper to run than a 150cc motorcycle. Pricing is estimated to be less than $5,000, which is less than half that of the cheapest diesel car available today.
Recently, Jay Leno got his own Tata Nano and also released a video talking about the car. Interestingly though, Leno finds the Nano’s AC better than the McLaren F1. Check out the video and let us know what you think!
Faisal Ali Khan is the owner/operator of MotorBeam.com, a website covering the auto industry of India.
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My family drove from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe, all four of us crammed into one of these -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Sunny - that was before the nasty civil war. I still remember the mist from Victoria Falls - oh those were the days.
Leave it to Jay Leno to do a fantastic, honest review of yet another car I'll never have a chance to buy here in the good ol' U.S. of A. Sincere thanks Jay, I for one greatly admire the level of appreciation you display for all things automotive and mechanical.
1st gen Smart (450) Diesel, MY 2000: MB OM 660 engine, 3 cyl, turbo, 800 cc, 41 hp. 800 kg+. Not that quick, indeed ... developped for Autobahn (ab)use, top speed 84 mp/h. 0-60: 20 sec.
Is that 94MPG in European or in USA gallons? Is that with a particulate filter and/ire urea tank for emissions?