Video: Tata Nano on BBC - engineer discusses design issues

[MetroMPG]

Designing the Tata Nano

Engineers at Indian car maker Tata have been putting the finishing touches to the world's cheapest car.

It costs about $2,500 - about half of its nearest current rival.

The BBC's Chris Morris took a closer look inside the Nano with Girish Arun Wagh, head of Tata's Small Car Project.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7423737.stm

This is the first video I've seen of the car in motion (get to see a few shots), with hints of what its little engine sounds like.

They cover things like:

- only 3 wheel nuts per wheel
- half the components in the door opening mechanism
- rear hatch design
- trying to avoid a "cheap" looking interior

There are some shots of the car in motion. The front control arms are teensy!

[Duffman]

The reporter makes a big deal of it in the video, but its not the first car to use 3 lug nuts per wheel.

[MetroMPG]

That's true. The Smart uses 3 wheel nuts.

[Duffman]

Remember "Le Car" it had 3 long before the smart.

http://pwp.netcabo.pt/mario.sequeira...Car_Canada.jpg

[igo]

Good video. I heard that the the Toyota aygo (European city car) did similar things to reduce cost. Like using only 1 air lifter for the hatch instead of 2.

[Peter7307]

3 wheel nuts date back to pre WW II and were used by many makers including Citroen , Renault and others. Post war Renault continued with them on the 5 (Le Car in some markets) , 12 and 16 models.

It is unfortunate the reporter seems to have such a limited outlook ans struggles to comprehend anything beyond what is already familiar.
Surely we need more open minded journalism on these items.

Pete.

[Duffman]

Originally Posted by Peter7307

Surely we need more open minded journalism on these items.

Pete.

IMO 90% of journalists are terrible. Its the other group that have a forcus or specialize whether it be political, economic, sports or automotive that actually earn their pay.

[MetroMPG]

Have a look at 24 seconds in. I'm sure that's the front wheel. Sure looks like drum brakes to me. Either that or a very large hub and very small rotor area.

[Duffman]

Those could be discs, there is a pretty thick looking part that is the outermost diameter. Drums in the back would be ok, but drums up front have no place on a modern production vehicle.

[TheDon]

I think the doors of my Mercedes weigh more than that whole car!