By Drew Johnson
Wednesday, Mar 4th, 2009 @ 5:45 am

Tata Motors used the 2008 Geneva Motor Show to show the world its tiny Nano city car, but the Indian automaker may have made an even bigger splash at this year’s Geneva show with the preview of another Nano-variant. Dubbed the Nano Europa, the newest version of the world’s cheapest car is intended for the European market.
Tata is still keeping tight-lipped as to which European markets will be gaining access to the Nano, but Tata CEO Ratan Tata says the Nano is “definitely†coming to Western Europe and the UK. However, Tata failed to give a timeframe for the launch of the Nano Europa.

The models shown at the Geneva Motor Show (see photos) were mock-ups of a slightly more luxurious Nano. Leather trim covered the cabin, though one had a broken door latch. Given the show cars’ preproduction status, we’ll forgive the broken door latch – though at these prices, who can complain?

Changes to the Nano a subtle, but are aimed to make the inexpensive car seem more palatable to European buyers. Upgrades include a longer wheelbase, a more stylized exterior and a better focus on interior quality. The Nano’s drivetrain has also been upgraded for the Europa model, featuring an all-aluminum, fuel-injected three-cylinder, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.

The Nano will launch in India this March, but we have a feeling it could still be awhile before we see the Nano on European roads. However, with an expected list price in the $2,000-$2,500 range, we’re sure Tata could at least find a few buyers in the mature European market – especially considering the way the economy is headed.

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