Video: Tata Pixel Concept's 'Spin On The Spot' Parking

By John Voelcker

John Voelcker

Senior Editor BIO

John is Senior Editor for High Gear Media. In addition to news coverage and new car reviews, John creates and oversees all editorial for High Gear's... More

LATEST ARTICLE
Do Electric And Natural-Gas Cars Compete Against Each Other?
We've been thinking a lot about natural-gas fueled vehicles, for reasons that will become clear in... Read More

• #4LEADERBOARD RANK
• 2901ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
• 1950COMMENTS POSTED

8,130 views Mar 9, 2011

Follow John

Add to circle

Tata Pixel Concept, 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Enlarge Photo

It's not coming to the States--at least not for several years--but the Tata Pixel concept shown at last week's Geneva Motor Show is worth paying attention to.

It shows how a more upscale four-seat urban car could be built on the underpinnings of the tiny Tata Nano, the world's cheapest new car.

One clever feature: The 10-foot-long Pixel's scissor doors open up, rather than out, so they stay within the car's footprint without impinging on passing traffic, cyclists, or pedestrians.

But there's another feature that's even cooler: 'Spin on the spot' parking, which lets the Pixel park in little more than its own length.

Tata Pixel Concept, 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Enlarge Photo

The feature comes courtesy of a unique Zero Turn toroidal infinitely-variable transmission, designed by Torotrak, that splits the torque from the Pixel's rear-mounted engine to let one rear wheel rotate in one direction while the other goes in the opposite direction.

With front wheels that can angle sharply to almost 90 degrees (since there's no engine between them), the little Pixel has a turning radius of just 8.5 feet (2.6 meters). Which makes snap U-turns a breeze, and lets the Pixel parallel-park in little more than its own length.

As the video below shows, that would make city driving a whole lot more convenient.

The first part of the video simulation, by the way, shows the Pixel using a smart phone as its instrument display. Many vehicle functions are controlled via virtual buttons in the Pixel app, from door opening to car starting.

The woman in the video has to stare intently at her phone (to make sure she hits the right button, we hope?), but the parking demo occurs from 1:20 to 1:50 in the clip.

[Tata Motors]

+++++++++++

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.