Tata GenX Nano

Tata Motors has just launched the much-awaited GenX Nano at ₹ 1.99 – 2.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The biggest changes to this year's version of Tata's city car are an openable hatch, a considerable facelift and the option of an automatic gearbox.

This 'GenX' Nano, as Tata calls it, debuts a lot of new features never before seen on the car. Apart from the option of an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) gearbox, the boot can finally be accessed by an openable hatch. When the Nano was first rolled out in March 2009, the company did have to cut corners in order to achieve that famous starting price of ₹ 1 lakh to make it the cheapest car in the world. But now, it has been repositioned as a city car, and therefore many comfort and convenience features have been added over the years.

The new GenX Nano will be made available in five trims — XE, XM, XT, XMA (AMT) and XTA (AMT). The AMT is a five-speed gearbox (unlike the manual, which remains a four-speed), which Tata calls 'Easy Shift’. Not only does it get a 'tiptronic' mode to shift gears manually, there's also a Sports mode for quicker responses, and a 'creep' function that moves the car forward slowly as soon as your foot is taken off the brake pedal.

The Nano GenX gets the same 624 cc, two-cylinder, rear-mounted petrol engine, apart from some modifications to the ECU for slightly improved fuel efficiency. Storage capacity in the automatic car is 94 litres, while the manual car can take 110 litres. The car gets an audio system with four speakers, Bluetooth, aux-in and USB.

On the outside, the Nano GenX has smoked headlamps, a black band with a chrome strip to liven up the near-vertical bonnet, new front and rear bumpers, fog lamps and a new grille that gives the car a smiling face. 

The financial year 2014-15 wasn’t great for the Tata Nano, as sales dipped 20 percent from the previous year to 16,901 units. However, with these few important and much required updates, the Nano is far better equipped at being an easy-to-use city car than it ever has been in the past.

Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

XE - ₹ 1.99 lakh

XM - ₹ 2.29 lakh

XT - ₹ 2.49 lakh

XMA (AMT) - ₹ 2.69 lakh

XTA (AMT) - ₹ 2.89 lakh

Here is a look at the variants of the GenX Nano.

Tata Nano XE 

The base XE variant of the Nano offers basic features such as driver information display with distance to empty and average fuel readout, fuel warning indicator, digital clock, trip meter, blower, front sunvisors and adjustable front seats adjustable front seats.

In terms of safety, the Nano XE gets booster-assisted brakes, front and rear seatbelts, crumple zones and body reinforcements.

Tata Nano XM 

Over and above the base XE trim, the XM trim gets the addition of power steering and air-conditioning. Safety features offered are the same as on the XE.

Tata Nano XT 

The XT trim gets the addition of a music system with USB, aux and Bluetooth connectivity, four speakers, rear parcel shelf, remote entry, heater, front power windows, 12V power socket, door pockets and vanity mirror for the front passenger. Safety features include the addition of central locking.

Tata Nano XMA 

The XMA trim shares the same features as the XM trim but gets the addition of the AMT gearbox, dual trip meter, instant fuel consumption reading and gear shift indicator. Safety features remain unchanged from the Nano XE and XM.

Tata Nano XTA 

The XTA trim shares its features with the XT trim, along with features from the XMA trim, including the AMT gearbox.