Taking its first step towards western markets, the diminutive Tata Nano has passed its first round of European crash tests. The Nano was put through its paces at Europe’s MIRA test center, passing both offset and front crash standards.
The Nano was put through a 40 percent offset crash and a 35 mph frontal impact crash test and reportedly passed with flying colors. Although European standards are more stringent than India’s crash test laws, India will adopt Europe’s standards in just three years, indicating Tata likely designed the Nano with those laws in mind.
“We’ve conducted these tests in India already, so we knew the car would pass,” Dr. Clive Hickman, Tata’s head of engineering, told Autocar. “But it’s still a great moment.”
NCAP testing is next on the docket for the Nano, with Tata executives confident of a four-star rating. If all goes to plan, Tata could begin marketing the Nano in Europe and the United States by 2012.
07/15, 9:06 AM
posted by:
F50
No, No, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
07/15, 9:18 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
Impressive! Disposable cars, HERE WE COME!!!!!
07/15, 9:26 AM
posted by:
chabak
Oh Come on. Live and let Live. If some one can make a good looking cheap car with good mileage for those non-freeway trips, then why not.
Benefits are 1) Cheap to buy 2) less gas consumption 3) dont have to worry about parking spaces 4) Looks better than the Smart cars. I am sure others could think of more reasons.
Maybe some one will come up with fancy add ons and you could trick the car up and it would only cost you a total of $5000. What’s not to like
07/15, 9:49 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Chabak your not serious are you?? The smart car is alot more advanced than this. The Car is practically just sheet metal. I wonder what kind of crash rating system is has to pass. If It pass that could mean the European Crash test are’nt worth a **** either.
07/15, 10:11 AM
posted by:
AutoCritical
I’m quite surprised about this… Has this been a modified/updated version of the nano to the one in India?
I have heard in passing that in some crash tests by companies have been fixed by using other cars or a custom chassis.
07/15, 10:12 AM
posted by:
CADDY-V
would never drive it.
07/15, 10:17 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’m going to start stocking up on cans of Raid.
07/15, 10:18 AM
posted by:
Borat
Coming soon to Jaguar and Land Rover dealer near you………….
07/15, 10:23 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
Do they still make those novelty sized mouse traps? I think I have a business proposition…
07/15, 10:33 AM
posted by:
West Ryder Lunatic
I don’t understand why i like the idea of these things.. I like cars to much to like this =[
And to be fair, it does look like an ordinary car that has already been crushed between two others anyway.
07/15, 10:45 AM
posted by:
Me
Not bad for a car whose short list of safety features included strong seat supports… I notice that’s not on the website anymore…
07/15, 11:23 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
crash tests can be somewhat deceptive…i’d like to see the slow-mo video of an offset crash or t-bone crash between this and an average mid-sized sedan, or even worse, an suv…
07/15, 12:36 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
Give me two 18 wheelers, a Nano, an empty WalMart parking lot and we could play Ping Pong.
07/15, 12:37 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
This is only the first round. 11 more to go!
I have my money on a knockout in the third round – Euro tests win!
07/15, 1:07 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
I could see this thing being sold through Walmart like all the other low-priced disposable crap they sell.
I wonder if they’ll float like an old beetle when someone tries to cross a puddle with one?
07/15, 1:14 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
“with Tata executives confident of a four-star rating”
Give me a brake…
07/15, 1:21 PM
posted by:
Spingood Tanoya
SomeGreek: the brake tests come after the structural tests.
07/15, 2:08 PM
posted by:
johngalt
The only way this sucker passes a two-vehicle head-on collision test is if the other vehicle used is a bicycle. Not one of those Wal-Mart mountain bikes, either–they’re too heavy. I had the opportunity to drive a Smart around the block once. Even as a novelty, it wasn’t fun. Tough to feel safe in something that size.
07/16, 10:21 AM
posted by:
aexcorp
You guys are being a bit harsh…
First, this car was never made for either the EU or US market, instead it was made to help the billion plus Indians in owning a car that will be practical, safe and cheap. I haven’t been to India, but word on the street is, the “cars” on the streets are pretty much 10+ years old, repaired to be capable in still moving. There’s also too many 2 and 3 wheels vehicles, which are far from safe.
All in all, this car seems on track to accomplish its mission, and I can guarantee you the number of car-related death in the next 10 years in India will drop, partly because of cars like the Nano.
Selling it in EU or US will just be a bonus…
07/17, 4:15 AM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Cars deaths will rise because more will have cars.
And the “cars” are not 10 years old there. They must be 20-30. A 10 yaer old is not old, at all.