Tata Motors launches GenX Nano, price starts at Rs 1.99 lakh

The wait is finally over and Tata Motors’ most awaited Nano GenX has been unveiled priced at Rs 1.99 lakh for XE variant (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The Tata Nano AMT is ready to give stiff competition to Hyundai Eon, Alto 800 and Maruti Suzuki Alto K10. Tata Nano GenX has been launched in five different variants; the other four XM, XT, XMA (Easy Shift AMT) and XTA (Easy Shift AMT) are priced at Rs 2.29 lakh, Rs 2.49 lakh, Rs 2.69 lakh and Rs 2.89 lakh respectively.

Though the booking of this next generation small car has already been started by dealers across the nation, deliveries for the same will commence soon. On the launch event, a few units of the brand new GenX Nano were handed over to the customers. With the tag of the cheapest automatic (Automated Manual Transmission) car in India, Nano is going to steal many hearts in the country. However, packing the Nano with AMT is the crucial feature for 2015 model but the car has also been bestowed with a list of cosmetic changes inside out. And looking at the upgrades and previous model’s offering, the latest version seems quite promising.

On the exterior front, Nano GenX sports a new smiling grille which is pretty conglomerated with smoked headlamps and thick black slack adorning Tata logo in the middle. The presence of new round fog lamps also adds exquisiteness to the car. At the rear of Nano GenX, the smiley shaped air intakes; redesigned bumper and a freshly designed open-able boot lid has made this vehicle bit upmarket. But one thing that might sound depressing is the reducing size of boot space. The car carries 94 litres boot space little less than the 110 litres of earlier models.

Coming to the interiors, the next generation Nano looks pretty same like its current variants but the addition of better quality seats in 2015 model gives it a smart feel. Inside the cabin, customer can choose two different shades in Beige and Black form, depending on the trim. The car boast of new steering wheel, chrome outlines for the AC vents, fresh instrument cluster along with new AmphiStream music system with Bluetooth, USB and AUX-IN support and four speakers are also there to add fun to your journey. To make customer’s excitement a bit high, Tata is offering this car in multiple color choices of Meteor Silver, Sangria Red, Royal Gold, Pearl White, Dazzle Blue, Persian Rose and Damson Purple.

On the power front, the small car will be housed with the same engine powering existing models. The motor is a rear--mounted 624cc MPFI two-cylinder petrol engine, which can deliver a maximum power output of 38.1 bhp and 51 Nm torque. The vital feature for which the car has been creating buzz all around is the addition of Easy Shift AMT gearbox borrowed from Magnetti Marelli. The 5-speed gearbox will make the drive very smooth and easy with its hydraulic actuators regulating gear shifting and clutch. As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, the AMT version is a little bit on a lower side with 21.9 kmpl of mileage while manual version still gives impressive 23.6kmpl.

Apart from above mentioned features, the new Nano also features a Sport and Creep function. Availability of creep function in Nano makes it a good pick up among automatic small cars in India that lack this kind of ability. The said creep function will help Nano in easy driving in bumper to bumper traffic condition. The features allows the car to creep for some distance after break has been released, without pressing the accelerator.

It is true that Nano has never been a big rival for others in the auto industry perhaps due to its little price tag and limited features. But with the introduction of GenX Nano, the competition will change its direction for sure. It can even eat up the likes of Alto K10 as it now becomes the most affordable automatic car in the country. Well, its pretty sure Nano has been given drastic modification this time, so let’s wait and watch what future has in its lap for Tata to cherish. (Image: CarDekho)

Mayank Pareek, President of Tata Motors' Passenger Vehicle Business Unit (PVBU), listens to a question as he stands next to the company's new "GenX Nano" car during its launch in Mumbai, India, May 19, 2015. The new version of the Nano comes with a starting price of 199,000 rupees ($3,127.21) and other Automated Transmission Mode (AMT) variants are priced up till 289,000 rupees ($4,541.52), ex-showroom Delhi. (Reuters)