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Tata Nano Based Composite Low Cost Car Planned
News has emerged that Tata Motors has plans of launching a new ultra low cost four wheeler that is based on the Nano platform. This new small would use the same engine, transmission and suspension system as the Nano. However, unlike regular cars this new model will be constructed using composite materials.
ET reports citing sources that Tata Motors is not sure whether launching a new unconventional model would be the right thing to do before stabilising its existing position in the automobile market. Hence, there is no word on when such a four wheeler would be launched.
An interesting fact about Tata's planned composite ultra low cost car is the source of its design. The design and build concept originates from the famous Italian auto designer Marcello Gandini, known for well recognized designs like Lamborghini Miura and Countach. Tata Motors has acquired the design and technology from Gandini, a designer who is a pioneer when it comes to use of composite materials in vehicle design.
The first thing that generally comes to the mind when hearing the word composite is carbon fiber based materials. However, Tata's planned composite car will use plastic composite or to be specific poly-diallyl-phthalate (PDP), to save cost, since carbon fiber composites are extremely expensive to develop.
PDP is generally used in industries, but using it to build a car has many advantages. The most obvious is reduced production costs. Another natural advantage plastic has over metal is that they are lighter. This significant difference in weight will make a PDP composite car extremely fuel efficient, a much sort after characteristic by Indian consumers. Besides being cheaper and lighter PDP composite cars are also said to be safer than a regular Nano constructed from metal.
Tata's planned composite car is expected to cost slightly more than Nano, but would be a lot more efficient and safer. Check for more updates on this news.
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