From initial sales projections that hit as high as 25,000 units a month to actual monthly sales of less than 1,000 units, the Nano has been through a whirlwind journey since its inception. Despite the magnitude of failure it experienced, Tata Motors isn’t ready to write off the Nano just yet. In fact, the Pune-based Indian manufacturer is working on a facelift for this diminutive city car.
Caught testing on the outskirts of Pune earlier this week, this Nano facelift reminds us of the Nano Twist Active Concept showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo in New Delhi. Identifiable by the redesigned rear bumper that houses a wide air intake to aid engine cooling, the test car also had a clearly-visible latch for opening the rear hatch. Both these features, along with a redesigned front bumper with a similar air intake, circular foglights and black-bezeled headlights were found in the Nano Twist Active Concept pictured below. Shot in pitch darkness by one of our regular readers Guru, the test car was said to be effortlessly doing triple digit speeds when these pictures were shot.
Tata has continuously improved the Nano over the years, adding features like a revised instrument cluster with driver information system, audio system with USB compatibility and a power-assisted steering. Nanos with the latter got a ‘Twist’ suffix and the facelift is expected to be based on this model. Amongst other things, a 5-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) developed by Magneti-Marelli and showcased as the Nano Twist F-Tronic Concept at the same Auto Expo could also feature in one of the variants of this facelift. If that happens, the AMT-equipped Nano would become the most affordable automatic car in the country.
With most of its Sanand capacity still lying unused, Tata Motors should waste no time in bringing this improved version of Nano to the market. We just wish it’s not called the Tata Nano Twist Active F-Tronic though!
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