Tata reveals details of small car project

Geneva: Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata has said that competitors are coming in the way of Tata Motors launching a car priced below Rs 1-lakh even if the government offered special incentives.

After months of speculation about its form and feasibility, some details about the specifications of the proposed Rs 1-lakh car from Tata Motors is finally out.

According to Ratan Tata, the car, expected to be the world's cheapest, will be a four-door, four- to five-seater and will sport a modern, monoform design. It will feature India's first 600cc petrol engine, rear mounted for improved practicality and easy driveability.

Instead of the much speculated plastic body panels and curtained windows, the car will feature metal body panels and glass windows that can be raised or lowered as in regular small cars.

The Rs1-lakh car will be launched by mid-2008. While it will debut with a stripped-down base variant, it will also be launched later with higher trim variants that could sport features such as power steering, power windows and air-conditioning.

According to Tata the car will have no import content and will meet international safety (in terms of crash safety) and emission standards. He also said that the car's price was dependent on many factors, including the possibility of incentives from the government.