Sweet new ride!!
Here's the newest in gas saving practicality. At the wild price of $2000, it's poised to take India by storm, along with the French air-powered car. What's missing in them both is practical things like air bags and air conditioning. These things are going to drive cost up and practicality down. For example, the Tata is boasting a .6 liter engine, which is great for getting it's 55 mpg, but I'm pretty sure NOT so great for running the air. That aught to drive the mpg down considerably, since I think the ac compressor on most cars costs about 6 hp. That's 2% of a souped up 300hp ride, and 4% of a modest 150hp family car. If I can guesstimate about 1hp per ci, we're talking about a whopping 37hp, here. That's great for a motorcycle, which could also figure about 600cc, but not so great for a CAR.
That being said, I'd buy one if the price tag stayed down really low, especially if I had to drive a bit and I could at least get a radio on it. I just don't think it'll be quite the bargain when it gets here. Even the Yaris comes stock with safety features, emissions, and a radio, and for a bit more you can get ac and still break 35 mpg. I just don't think the Tata will be able to compete when it comes down to it. Sure times are tough, but Americans will still be willing to pay a couple thousand more for a REAL car.
Now, that French deal, that could be popular just because it's freakin GREEN. I saw a bunch of SmartCars on the road, and I did some research. Seems to me that for a tiny car that doesn't come with air, a radio, steering assist, or power anything, and shakes with a lot of noise at speed, its 35 mpg or so isn't such a great deal, especially for $12,000. But they're EVERYWHERE. Take an air car that can seat 6, though, and now we're talking.
It looks like the air car is going to have a gas engine that can also power the car when the air tank is empty, but I'm not sure if it's going to drive the crankshaft or drive the air compressor. I think the second option is the way to go. I'd drive the shit out of it.
That being said, I'd buy one if the price tag stayed down really low, especially if I had to drive a bit and I could at least get a radio on it. I just don't think it'll be quite the bargain when it gets here. Even the Yaris comes stock with safety features, emissions, and a radio, and for a bit more you can get ac and still break 35 mpg. I just don't think the Tata will be able to compete when it comes down to it. Sure times are tough, but Americans will still be willing to pay a couple thousand more for a REAL car.
Now, that French deal, that could be popular just because it's freakin GREEN. I saw a bunch of SmartCars on the road, and I did some research. Seems to me that for a tiny car that doesn't come with air, a radio, steering assist, or power anything, and shakes with a lot of noise at speed, its 35 mpg or so isn't such a great deal, especially for $12,000. But they're EVERYWHERE. Take an air car that can seat 6, though, and now we're talking.
It looks like the air car is going to have a gas engine that can also power the car when the air tank is empty, but I'm not sure if it's going to drive the crankshaft or drive the air compressor. I think the second option is the way to go. I'd drive the shit out of it.
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