Click to play videoNew Delhi: A car for a lakh, is that possible? Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata is still holding the card close to his chest. "The whole issue of Rs 1 lakh has been touted in all kinds of ways. Let the final price be a surprise," he would say.
For Tata Motors, the Rs 1 lakh car is not just a car, it's a prestige issue. And with just a few hours left before the launch of the car, speculation is rife as to what makes up the car and, more importantly, what could be missing in the car that is just about as expensive as a car audio system.
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Does it have an engine? "We know it's a rear engine. We know it has a 600-650CC engine," auto expert Murad Ali Baig says. But will the tiny engine move the car? Murad expects about 40 BHP and a top speed of around 100 kmph. "The trials show that the car has a very high fuel efficiency."
And sitting capacity? Is it a two-seater and how many doors does it have? Murad says the car has four doors. "And it has very comfortable sitting space for four large people," he reveals.
But with the engine at the back, expect space for very little luggage and that too in the front. But then even this is a lot for a car which is half the cost of its nearest competitor.
What is missing in the car apart from a reasonable luggage space is power steering and air-conditioning. The car also said to have one wiper instead of the customary two. The headlights are basic without any frills.
The instrument panel too is very basic with minimal facilities. It has a speedometer and odometer and fuel gauge but no RPM counter.
Tata Motors has gone all out to make sure Ratan Tata's plan of a Rs 1 lakh car doesn't miss the price point. But with various duties adding up to a significant portion of a new car's ex-showroom price, do not be surprised if on Thursday the sticker price shows it well over a lakh.
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