Indian Maker Bajaj Unveils 94 MPG Rival To Tata Nano Minicar

Home

News

Fuel Efficiency

Indian Maker Bajaj Unveils 94 MPG Rival To Tata Nano Minicar

Antony Ingram

Contributing Writer BIO

Antony is an automotive obsessive: Whether it drives, sits there looking pretty or intrigues from afar, he'll talk and write about it. Automotive... More

LATEST ARTICLE
VW To Help Prevent Diesel Misfueling With Dealer Retrofit
It's ironic that one of the best characteristics of modern diesels is also their downfall, for many... Read More

#6LEADERBOARD RANK
1811ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
4COMMENTS POSTED

2,074 views Jan 4, 2012

Follow Antony

Bajaj RE60 minicar

Enlarge Photo

Related Photo Galleries

See more photos »

Living in a country where safe, comfortable and fast cars are often easy to come by, you can forget that some countries aren't quite the same.

Take India, for instance. While the $2,400 or so charged for a Tata Nano might raise eyebrows in the U.S, the tiny, narrow body, basic interior and unfashionable details wouldn't exactly start a queue of eager buyers.

On the Indian market, it's one of the most important cars ever. Now, Indian maker Bajaj has unveiled its rival to the Nano, called the RE60. Bajaj is most well-known for its auto-rickshaws, the three-wheel "tuk tuk" vehicles making up huge numbers in Indian traffic.

Indian Autos Blog expects the price to start at around 1.5 lakh rupees, or about $2,800. So what will Indian customers get for such a low price, albeit slightly more than that of a Nano?

Certainly not styling. We'd hesitate to call the Nano an attractive car, but at least there's a degree of styling flair about it - the RE60 is pure utility. It's also little bigger than a Smart ForTwo, but weighs only 880 pounds - about half as much. Technically, the RE60 isn't even a car - it's a quadricycle.

Bajaj RE60 minicar

Enlarge Photo

With a 15-20 horsepower, 200cc gasoline (or natural gas) engine, it needs all the help it can get, but economy will be the car's main selling point. Bajaj is claiming 40km per liter, which translates to 94 miles per gallon. Emissions are low too - important when Bajaj claims that vehicles account for 70 percent of the pollution in Indian cities.

While it looks unsafe to Western eyes, the four-wheeled, fully-enclosed RE60 should also be far less dangerous than the unstable auto-rickshaws currently being used, potentially cutting the number of fatalities from accidents, which currently stands at well over 100,000 each year.

Cars like the Tata Nano and Bajaj RE60 perfectly illustrate the motoring culture divide between Westernized nations and developing countries.

You probably wouldn't want to drive them yourself, but for the average, low-income Indian buyer, they're as significant as the Model T Ford was in America.

+++++++++++

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.

Tags:

Posted in:

Fuel Efficiency Green

Contribute

Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor

People Who Read This Article Also Read

Have an opinion?

Comments (4)

Jay Temkar Posted: 1/6/2012 12:02am PST

I think this not a Tata Nano Rival. Let me put some comparision: 1) Tata Nano fits 5 Adults comfortably: Re60 Fits 4 People, still doubt about comfort 2) Tata Nano Is more roomier and has more spsce : RE60 has very less space inside. 3) Tata Nano Has speed about 100 Km Max : RE60 has Max speed about 70 Km 4) Nano has more power: 38 BHP : RE60 less power approx 20 BHP 5)Nano Looks like a car : Re60 does not looks like a car 6) RE60 will be Rival to Autorikshaws and the scooters than Tata Nano.

Bajaj could have produced more powerful and yet cheap car, but they didnt.

Post Reply

Vote

Bad stuff?

Antony Ingram Posted: 1/6/2012 2:02am PST

I must admit, it confuses me how the RE60 is a little more expensive than the basic Nano, yet seems to offer so much less.

Post Reply

Vote

Bad stuff?

Ron Wagner Posted: 1/27/2012 9:00am PST

If what you say is true, why would they even bother to put it on the market? Are they crazy? Or are you exaggerating? I have not had the pleasure of seeing either in person, but wish they were an option for Americans at those prices.

Post Reply

Vote

Bad stuff?

Ron Wagner Posted: 1/27/2012 8:58am PST

I would love to drive one. My Aveo has worked out fine. I guess it is an SUV compared to the Bajaj.

Post Reply

Vote

Bad stuff?