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-   -   The Pelican - Tata Motors' new small car based on the Nano (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/159773-pelican-tata-motors-new-small-car-based-nano.html)

After the Falcon and the Kite, here comes the Pelican, Tata Motors' new small car based on the Nano platform, to take on the Alto and Eon.

It will have a new 1000cc Petrol and 800cc Diesel engines and will hit the roads next year, with a new name.

Could this be the Mega Pixel's production version? In time we'll know but this brings us another question. Will the Nano never get a bigger engine as was speculated for a long time? All that Nano testing captured, on those spy pics, only for the AMT?

source - http://www.business-standard.com/art...1900030_1.html

It can't be Megapixel. That was an electric concept, if I remember correctly. But makes sense for Tata to invest in something new and advanced instead of continuing to flog the jinxed Nano, which doesn't appear to be going anywhere despite however many rupees Tata invests behind it.

With all reports of Tata shelving the Diesel Nano, I was always suspicious of something like this! Otherwise, all the expense of developing a new engine abinitio would be wasted.

However, if the platform used is the same (X302), it would again be a rear engine vehicle and would again present the same problem of limited boot space and market perceptions of a strange layout. Would be interesting to see if Tata has learnt any lessons on this and how it tackles the problem.

If they decide to make this a significantly more sporty car by choosing appropriate wheels (not asymmetric size) and lowering body height as compared to the tallboy nano, and maybe consider offering a foldable top cabriolet, tata could keep the RR layout of the Nano platform and really use it too.

Just one correction, the original concept was a hybrid, it had single cylinder 325 cc auxiliary petrol unit. That aside, I don't see the Megapixel coming to life as the Pelican either - some design cues from the concept might make it though.

The Megapixel concept coming to life has already been discounted by TML

I recently came across this piece of information that Tata will soon be coming up with a Nano based small car to take on Renault Kwid. The new hatchback in question will be a size larger than the Nano and will slot below the newly launched Tiago.

Business-Standard reports that the new product will be benefiting from an improved version of the Nano’s platform. While Nano was originally engineered with stringent cost targets, the new derivative will focus on attractive styling, more performance, better interiors and more equipment.

The publication reports that the automaker has updated its vendors that the Nano based small car would require bigger engine, battery, wheels, etc. The engine displacement is estimated to be close to 1,000 cc. It’s likely to be a three-cylinder unit.
Tata also has a 800 cc turbocharged diesel engine in its shelf but given the market conditions and NVH limitations, the oil burner is not likely to make it onboard the new hatchback. As of now, multiple sources have confirmed that this new small car project which is codenamed Pelican, is a go.

Visually, the upcoming product will be adopting the brand’s new IMPACT design philosophy. In addition to rivaling the Renault Kwid, the product in question will also compete with the Datsun redi-Go, Hyundai Eon and Maruti Alto.

Source: Rushlane

MODS: I didn't find a similar thread, so thought of sharing.

Will be a stupid move after putting so much effort in improving the quality of new cars like Tiago, Bolt etc. To go below the 'quality' of Kwid is like going back to a decade for Tata.

In my opinion Tata won't compromise on build quality. The product will have the best features and quality interiors in the segment, just like what we see in Tiago, Zest and Bolt. I don't think they will take a step back on quality since people have started appreciating what they have done with their recent products.

Do they really need to, considering there is still a price gap between Nano and Kwid?

But the rear engine layout of the Nano platform will be a disaster on an SUVish design. I don't think it would work out.

From the report - they are actually going up on the quality of Nano and not going below a Kwid. Competing with Kwid need not necessarily mean going below in terms of quality, right?

Nothing new in this news. These rumours surfaced in January 2015 as well.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ased-nano.html

This news does seem to be based on some concrete information rather than a rumour. There are 2 Pelican prototypes exported in the month of February as per zauba.com. Also notice that the engine no starts with 373 which means it's a 3 cylinder.

There is quite a fan base for Nano - those who already own a Nano, would want to drive a better Nano actually, not anything else.

Reasons?
a) The interior space offered by Nano is unmatched in the segment. All four occupants can be seated in comfort, and ingress & egress is super easy.
b) Joy to ride in the city. Same with parking.
c) Cute looks!
d) Comes within the pocket. Comes with all the convenience features that is usually offered on top variant in A segment, but at the price less than the base version of Alto 800.

Why people dislike Nano?
a) Looks terribly weak. Body seems to be built of very light metals.
b) 2 cylinder rear engine - Gives a feel of an auto rickshaw. Not an image an aspiring first car owner can live with. (This is one reason why first car buyers run away from Nano, but many owners of bigger sedans want this as second car)
c) Boot space - Every car owner will go for an outstation drive, and he will have luggages at that point of time, with full passengers. Very restricted luggage space is bad for any car. Renault has given Kwid a huge boot to address this area!
d) Bigger Petrol Tank - Again, a car owner would want at least a 500 km range for one full tank. A too small fuel tank will only put the driver at pressure to keep hunting for petrol bunks all the way.

When designing the Nano based car, they should try to address the shortfalls of the Nano in a solid way, and then keep some of its benefits. With this, if they offer the car at a very competitive price tag, they can get the ball rolling in their favour.
Tata Motors are big players, so they can sure give very good VFM pricing for a very good product without running into losses, instead of going overboard and pricing an inferior product at a premium pricing. They can never discount their lost image. They should remember that though their new product line is fresh and their CS is improving, there is no image turnaround in a big way yet (Sales charts show that).

The Pelican project does hold promise, provided they emulate the Tiago strategy - beat the competition in features, quality and price.

However, I am more interested to know if Tata plans to update the current Nano with additions like, the long pending, Disc brakes, this year.

BTW, what happened to the Nano Turbo:confused: