Get rid of unions and costs will drop dramatically

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MB-less

Tata car launched today, 624cc and Euro-IV, better off with a 10-15 year old Subaru, Corolla or Civic.




Engine 2Cyl MPFi petrol (single injector) All aluminum 624cc Vertically aligned, rear mounted parallel twin
Bore X Stroke 73.5 X 73.5
Compression Ratio 9.5:1 2 valves per cyl overhead camshaft
Power: 33bhp@5500
Torque: 48 Nm@2500 0-70: 14 seconds
Max Speed: 105-110 kph
Fuel Economy (combined City + Highway): 20 kmpl
Boot capacity: 150 lts
Transmission 4 speed synchromesh with overdrive in 4th
Steering – Mechanical Rack and pinion
Length: 3100mm
Width: 1500mm
Height: 1600mm
Wheelbase: 2230mm
Front track: 1325mm
Rear track: 1315mm
Ground Clearance: 180 mm
Fuel Tank capacity: 15 liters
Front suspension: McPherson Strut with lower A arm Rear suspension: Independent Coil spring



One word.....................YUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

My memory must be failing me. The car of which I was thinking was the 1937 Airmobile designed by Paul Lewis. However, his 3 wheeler had the engine and drive wheels in the front and a single wheel in the rear.

One of the keys to low cost is to decrease the number of openings ( doors and hood/ hatches). You eliminate hinges, latches, and no QC is reuired to make the shut lines fit well.
I do not foresee such a minimalist vehicle for the US, except maybe in cities. The thought of such a vehicle competeing on the highways with H2s, Suburbans, Excursions, even my W126, let alone 18 wheelers, is just too gruesomw to contemplate. ( I have considered restoring a Crosley, but the same gruesome thoughts have deterred me, so far.)

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

I like the specification of it. Reminds me of the early 500 fiats. Too bad they didn't spring for an Italian designer though. It is a face only a mother could love. What does that mileage translate to in mpg?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom,

It would translate to 50mpg roughly, not that impressive considering the new Accord diesel would be giving 58mpg.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

How big are those wheels? 8in?


Looks like a flat nose Prius.

For $2,500 I can go down the street and get a pretty clean 1993 BMW 535I. Can they do that in India? I would.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You make a good point about wheel diameter. Those small wheels will make hitting potholes seem like the world is ending. For laughs the IIHS should buy a few and run them through some crash tests. The results would probably make those Chinese deathboxes seem like w140's.

Isn't it cheaper to pay for a death than an injury? Maybe they will try to market them to single people with no relatives?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Designing a low cost car is simple. Designing a low-cost car that can safely accellerate, corner, and stop is not simple. Key to all of this, and I'm surprised it didn't come up much earlier, is the life expectancy of the car. Design costs are ideally offset by selling lots of units for lots of profit - like a 240d or a 300d.

Besides all that, how can one expect to look cool in a little yellow Barbie car?

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

20 kmpl = 46 mpg. I agree that is not so impressive, but that Accord is probably going to be about $25,000 more to buy isn't it? If so, then I don't think the Honda is going to survive long enough for the fuel savings to offset the initial cost.

I wouldn't. The LAST thing we need is for every one in the United States to be able to afford a car.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

OTOH it would be a lot better for folks with not much money to all be driving one of those nifty little cars than a 20 year old oldsmobile belching fumes and using a gallon of gas every 12 miles or so.

When I am driving one of my cars with the air coming in from the outside I can often smell the unburned hydrocarbons from an old pickup or van that is three or four cars ahead of me.

Yech!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Good for population control in India.

Btw, no chance of getting a BMW for $2500 in India. BMW has been launched in the year 2002. Second hand 3 series go for hefty $8000.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

A minimalist car, no matter how start opens up a WORLD of opportunity to those who have no car. Walking, and carrying goods to market just can't compete with driving and loading up the car.
Again, probably not going to happen in the US, but in 3rd world countires with emerging economies, it just might be the ticket.

Bodhi, better check your figures, I believe we already have more vehicles in the US than drivers; maybe more than all people.

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

The only good point if there is any about this car in India is the ease of parking, I wouldn't mind one just to go grocery shopping etc. Parking lots here are full, SUVs are the norm, with my 300D or the Gurkha, I have virtually no space to manoeuvre.

I would rather get the same size Bajaj car which will have Nissan engine. It will be around $3200 but it will last.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT