Diesel Tata Nano launch in 2009 July likely

Tata Motors officially has not announced a date for the launch of the diesel Tata Nano, but suppliers indicate that it would be launched around nine months after the launch of the Tata Nano petrol in October.

Tata Motors may be facing serious issues due to the continuing protest by farmers unwilling to give up their land for the Nano factory. But at least officially, Tata has reiterated that the Tata Nano will be launched in October 2008.

According to industry sources, Tata Motors plans to launch the diesel variant nine months after the petrol model is rolled out. It has also sounded out Tata Nano dealerships in the country to the launch of the proposed arrival of the Nano diesel. While the petrol engine in the Nano has a 623 cc, the DiCor diesel version is likely to have around 690 cc. Meanwhile, dealers have said that they are ready for the Nano as Tata Motors is scheduled to commercially launch the car coinciding with the Durga Puja festival. The expected price for the diesel Nano is close to Rs 2 lakh.

It may be recalled that the automotive company had hinted at lining up a diesel version while unveiling the Nano at the Delhi Auto Expo last January. When the Nano diesel arrives, it is expected to be the cheapest diesel car, The current cheapest diesel car is also a Tata vehicle, the 1.4 L Indica. An electric Tata Nano is also in the works for a potential launch a while after the diesel Nano.

The Nano diesel hatchback is likely to offer fuel consumption averages of up to 26 kmpl on highways and 22 kmpl on city drives. While the standard version will come without an AC, the deluxe version will have AC and would be priced a tad higher.

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