Project X1: Rs 1 lakh car on track

Ratan Tata's dream project to get off the ground by 2008.

Ratan Tata's dream project is scheduled to get off the ground by 2008. The Rs 1 lakh car (internal code X1), sources close to Tata Motors say, will feature monocoque/unibody construction and will not compromise on safety standards.

But Tata is still looking at alternate material (other than sheet metal) to clad the exteriors with the twin objectives of reducing weight and cost. Mules that are being tested by Tata Motors feature seating for four adults.

The car is developed with a 600 cc two or three cylinder four-stroke engine which will not share anything from the Tata Indica parts-bin. Instead, Tata Motors is tapping the huge motorcycle ancillary industry for the power train and running gear components.

The car with the said powertrain is expected to return close to 20-25 kpl easily. The engine will be developed such a way that it will be able to run on LPG/CNG or petrol.

Fiat Auto of Italy which has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tata Motors will not be part of Tata's ambitious "one lakh" car project. De Filippis Giovanni, managing director of Fiat India Pvt Ltd, told Business Standard that the "one lakh" car is totally a project of Tata and Fiat currently has nothing to do with it.

Giovanni is one of the architects of the Fiat-Tata Motors pact which will see the car makers join hands in almost all areas of automobile business"" including sourcing, production, sales and service.

At the same time, sources in the ancillary industry say that Tata Motors has got assistance from the design house I.De.A of Italy which was responsible for design and pre-production development of the Tata Indica project.

Tata Motors has continued its association with I.De.A through an array of concept cars based on the Indica platform such as the Arya convertible, the Indiva monospace and the X-over which were all displayed at the Geneva International motor show over the years.