Piaggio plans mini-car with Rs 1.5-lakh price tag

airbender · 4th November 2010, 01:24

The Hindu Business Line : Piaggio plans mini-car with Rs 1.5-lakh price tag

One more mini car heading to india. But will a three seater car have enough demand in india.

invidious · 4th November 2010, 01:49

Three Seater or Three Wheeler?

If it is a 3 wheeler - please let me a cheaper version of a Carver One

YouTube - Carver One

P.S. I hope this is not construed as being off-topic. If so, I apologize. But it just popped to mind when I read 3-seater.

CoolFire · 4th November 2010, 09:46

The report says it will be next Ape'. So expect nothing more than a good robust rikshaw on four wheels.

Obviously it will have four wheels, otherwise how to differentiate?

Could be good for our roads if it is more refined and safe than the noisy ape'

sidindica · 4th November 2010, 10:14

I hope that they do not end up getting this.

designersf · 4th November 2010, 12:04

Three seater? It looks like a 2+1. Two adults and one kid. Does it have three or four wheels? The above pictures look like an inexpensive reproduction of the Smart..
I hope they do not end up turning a three wheeler into four.

Chennai'ites will know that most (share) autos are converted to four wheelers. Hope Piaggio does not end up doing the same

sidindica · 4th November 2010, 12:22

That pic is actually of the piaggio M500 quadricycle powered by 505 cc diesel engine from mitsubishi. Its actually a rebadged version of a popular Italian microcar called casalini ydea. Whether its in production or not, I don't know. But i posted the pic because it could be similar to the aforementioned design criteria.

ashutoshb · 4th November 2010, 12:23

Its the NT3.

What AutoCar India says:

- Could hit the roads by late-2013.
- Three-seat cabin features a central, front driving position and twin rear seats.
- Is based around Piaggio’s three-wheel Ape, around ‘bike running gear'.
- Engine choices in the concept are 200cc or 300cc ‘bike engines', the 300cc also mated to a hybrid system.

Source: Piaggio reveals new city car | Autocar India

More photos: Piaggio NT3 Concept - a set on Flickr

Video:

YouTube - Piaggio NT3 Concept

Gansan · 4th November 2010, 12:41

That is a contraption, not a car! Screams "autorickshaw" from every side. Won't sell in significant numbers IMO. Why would anyone look at it instead of the nano, when the prices are similar?

sidindica · 4th November 2010, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gansan

That is a contraption, not a car! Screams "autorickshaw" from every side. Won't sell in significant numbers IMO. Why would anyone look at it instead of the nano, when the prices are similar?

It looks pretty radical and dare I say the white one looks very nice, no need to balk at it. These cars will be the future in coming years.

ranc · 4th November 2010, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidindica

It looks pretty radical and dare I say the white one looks very nice, no need to balk at it. These cars will be the future in coming years.

Sid is right, looks cute actually looks far better than a Nano, better proportioned also.

McLaren Rulez · 4th November 2010, 13:33

Looks more like a toy

I think the Nano/Alto would still be the entry level car for Indian families while this might be a cool second or third car for those who need a small city runabout

designersf · 4th November 2010, 15:30

Reminds me of Gordon Murray's T25 City car project. Even this has a central driving position with space for two passengers behind the driver on either side.

Gansan · 4th November 2010, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranc

Sid is right, looks cute actually looks far better than a Nano, better proportioned also.

But it is only a quadracycle and will be powered by a 200 / 300 cc engine. Will run more like an auto, no way it will drive like a car.

As for cuteness, the Reva looks cute too! But where are the numbers, at that price? And don't forget, TVS and Bajaj planned to bring out quadracycles 7 - 8 years back, but the effort was stillborn, thanks to some car makers!

HammerHead · 4th November 2010, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidindica

It looks pretty radical and dare I say the white one looks very nice, no need to balk at it. These cars will be the future in coming years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranc

Sid is right, looks cute actually looks far better than a Nano, better proportioned also.

. Looks cool in white

. I doubt if production version will retain atleast 50% of what shown as a concept!!

sandeepmdas · 4th November 2010, 21:26

Certainly an useless contraption for a personal/family vehicle. But makes a lot of sense when viewed as a replacement for the rasping autorickshaws.

4th November 2010, 01:24	#1
airbender BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: miami. fl Posts: 453 Thanked: 205 Times	Piaggio plans mini-car with Rs 1.5-lakh price tag The Hindu Business Line : Piaggio plans mini-car with Rs 1.5-lakh price tag One more mini car heading to india. But will a three seater car have enough demand in india.
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 09:46	#3
CoolFire BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tsr, Kerala Posts: 386 Thanked: 576 Times	The report says it will be next Ape'. So expect nothing more than a good robust rikshaw on four wheels. Obviously it will have four wheels, otherwise how to differentiate? Could be good for our roads if it is more refined and safe than the noisy ape'
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 10:14	#4
sidindica Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 4,895 Thanked: 8,153 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)	I hope that they do not end up getting this. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 12:04	#5
designersf BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 603 Thanked: 80 Times	Three seater? It looks like a 2+1. Two adults and one kid. Does it have three or four wheels? The above pictures look like an inexpensive reproduction of the Smart.. I hope they do not end up turning a three wheeler into four. Chennai'ites will know that most (share) autos are converted to four wheelers. Hope Piaggio does not end up doing the same
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 12:22	#6
sidindica Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 4,895 Thanked: 8,153 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)	That pic is actually of the piaggio M500 quadricycle powered by 505 cc diesel engine from mitsubishi. Its actually a rebadged version of a popular Italian microcar called casalini ydea. Whether its in production or not, I don't know. But i posted the pic because it could be similar to the aforementioned design criteria.
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 12:41	#8
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,563 Thanked: 5,668 Times	That is a contraption, not a car! Screams "autorickshaw" from every side. Won't sell in significant numbers IMO. Why would anyone look at it instead of the nano, when the prices are similar?
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 13:33	#11
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,415 Thanked: 5,254 Times	Looks more like a toy I think the Nano/Alto would still be the entry level car for Indian families while this might be a cool second or third car for those who need a small city runabout
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 15:30	#12
designersf BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 603 Thanked: 80 Times	Reminds me of Gordon Murray's T25 City car project. Even this has a central driving position with space for two passengers behind the driver on either side.
	() Thanks

4th November 2010, 21:26	#15
sandeepmdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Varkala Posts: 1,564 Thanked: 2,678 Times	Certainly an useless contraption for a personal/family vehicle. But makes a lot of sense when viewed as a replacement for the rasping autorickshaws.
	() Thanks