The announcement of the upcoming $2500 Tata caused me to think how I might make a low-cost car. Here's my starting list--How would you do it?
Remember this is an extremely minimal vehicle.

4 passenger.
Tricyclce car with the single wheel in the rear, driving the car--eliminates differential, and does not have problems with inside wheel lifting as in a powered 2 wheel axle in a trike.
One Door--passenger side to promote curb-side egress, and simplify. Also promotes rigid safety cell by having no opening in driver's side.
No interior door panels
Floor covering might be a spray-on in 2 layers--first layer is a resilent material for some sound deadening, topped with a tough layer like Rhino liner material.
Probably about 35-40 HP driving thru a 3 or 4 speed tranny--maybe a planetary gear train, depending on costs.
Side windows slide up and down with catches at only 3 positions--fully closed, about 1" open ( for vent), half open, and then fully open ( no catch required at bottom of the travel. Catch is a rod running in a track at the bottom of the glass--not spring catches like on a school bus ( too many parts)
Flat side glass and same shape for all side glass--interchangeable side-to-side and front-to-rear. Maybe even flat glass front and rear. ( All glass safety type, of course)
Simple seat construction--steel loop frame and elastic (bungy) cords with some padding and cover.
No external trunk ( simplifies exterior sheet metal and no hinges or shut lines to worry about) access to spare storage is thru the wide single door and folding rear seat.
All gauges in a single cluster --speed odometer, fuel and temp.
Heat, vent and defrost only--NO provision for A/C

Well, I gotta get back to work, but this is a start.
What would you do?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags