The world's cheapest car (NANO) : 10 things that you should know about the People's Car

1. Does it really cost Rs. 100,000? (About $2,000)? 
Yes, but that's for the base model, without tax. The higher-end versions will cost more.

2. What makes it so cheap?
It is made with less material than other cars, so it costs less to produce. Tata Motors, headed by Ratan Tata, pictured here, asked every one of its components makers to redesign their parts to minimize their weight and cost, but still perform well.

3. Does it have enough power to pass a truck on the highway?
Maybe a small truck. The Nano can do 0 to 100 km in 23 seconds. For most regular city driving, the two-cylinder engine would be fine, but it loses some of its power when the AC is running.

4. Will I feel cool driving it?
Yes, it is a cute car. The exterior is imported Japanese and Korean steel, and even the basic model feels roomy inside. The vinyl seats on the basic model and rough plastic door locks, however, look cheap.

5. How does it handle?
Very well. After putting the engine in the rear to save space, Tata engineers reconfigured the rest of the car. The spare tire and gas tank are in the front, while the battery is under the driver's seat. All that rearranging keeps the front axle weight balanced, and improves the handling of the car.

6. When will it be available outside India?
The Nano Europa is planned for 2011 in Europe. No plans yet for the United States.

7. How's the gas mileage?
The Nano weighs so little — just 600 kg (1,322 lbs.), half that of a Honda Accord — that it doesn't need much to run. It gets more than 20 km/l, or 47 miles/gal.

8. Will it increase pollution?
The company says the Nano's CO2 emissions (110 g/km) are less than that of a high-end motorcycle. This is not a clean-burning car, so it will add to the world's carbon emissions, but Tata Motors argues that if it replaces motorcycles and scooters, the net effect will be to lower emissions from what they otherwise would have been.

9. Is it safe?
The Nano is built to meet the safety standards of whatever country it is in. For India, that means crash tests, seat belts and fog lamps, but no airbags. As it moves to other countries, the Nano will scrupulously meet minimum standards, but Tata Motors is not trying to use safety features as a selling point.

10. How do you buy one?
No, not online. Nanos must be ordered in person starting mid-April at one of Tata Motors 470 outlets in India, but you won't be able to drive it home. The first Nanos will be on the road in June or July.

Source: Time at www.time.com

Now since its first selling in 2009, Nano has received many awards ( Nano Awards )

2010 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) Award

  2010 Car of the Year Award by Bloomberg UTV Autocar

  2010 Small Car of the Year Award by Bloomberg UTV Autocar   

  Micro Car of the Year by NDTV Profit Car & Bike Special Award   

  Entry Level Mini Car of the Year by ET ZigWheels   

  Jury Award at the Business Standard Motoring Car of the Year (COTY) Awards   

  Car of the Year & Compact Car of the Year Award by CNBC TV18 Overdrive 2010   

  Most Value-for-Money Car of the Year 2009 by ET ZigWheels   

  Viewers Choice Car of the Year 2009 by ZigWheels.com   

  Viewers Choice Car of the Year by Aaj Tak

The most expensive version of Nano is Nano Goldplus with a price tag of an estimated of 220 Million rupees ($4.47 Million). You know why?

The Tata Nano Goldplus is a blinged-out version of its $2500 city car that is decorated with nearly 80 kilograms of 22 carat gold, 15 kilos of silver and hundreds of gems and precious stones.

The gold-plated golf-cart has been jointly produced by Tata, the Indian mega-company, the owner of Land Rover and Jaguar and subsidiary jewellery specialist Goldplus, part of the Titan Industries group. Click here.