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Critics Bowled Over by World's Cheapest Car

It's $2K, but the Tata Nano provides bang for your buck

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 26, 2009 10:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – India unveiled the world's cheapest car this week, and a few lucky drivers took the $2,000 Tata Nano for a test drive. Their reactions:

  • “A surprisingly smooth ride. Thrifty transport is not meant to be this comfortable,” writes Randeep Ramesh in the Guardian. “Built for functional frugality, the Nano is a striking if not a beautiful car.”

  • “Despite being a fraction of the size of most economy-car engines, the all-aluminum engine provides reasonable pep. Engine noise is also far less than one might imagine given the size and simplicity,” says Nick Kurczewski in the New York Times.
  • “The Nano zipped around farming tractors, beat out lumbering buses, and maneuvered around bicyclists,” notes Emily Wax in the Washington Post.
  • “To drive India's new $2,000 automobile is to consider all the things you thought you needed in a car but really don't,” writes Erika Kinetz for the AP.

The hood of a Tata Motors' Nano car is seen lifted at the company's plant in Pimpri, southeast of Mumbai, India, yesterday.
The hood of a Tata Motors' Nano car is seen lifted at the company's plant in Pimpri, southeast of Mumbai, India, yesterday.   (AP Photo)
A woman test drives a Tata Motors Nano car at the company's plant in Pimpri, India, yesterday.
A woman test drives a Tata Motors Nano car at the company's plant in Pimpri, India, yesterday.   (AP Photo)
People test drive a Nano car at the company's plant in Pimpri, southeast of Mumbai, India, yesterday.
People test drive a Nano car at the company's plant in Pimpri, southeast of Mumbai, India, yesterday.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
justapirate
Mar 27, 2009 5:53 AM CDT
The car doesn't have airbags...
Mad
Mar 26, 2009 7:59 AM CDT
The auto industry will keep this car from ever having an American market
Assassin
Mar 26, 2009 6:21 AM CDT
Remember - this car is for India's people & will be a huge seller. The Model-T was bought by the thousands in early days of American industrialization.

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