Indeed, the Tata
Nano has been a path-breaking invention and has been constantly developed to
provide class-leading value, best-in-class technology and design engineering to
make it a complete city car. Be it the Tata Nano's modern, colourful and
stylish exteriors and interiors or its best-in-class fuel efficiency at 25.35
kmpl as certified by the ARAI and sheer ease of drivability versus any other
car in its category, the awesome surprise lies in its best-in-class
affordability as well! Here’s 7 reasons why you should go for a Tata Nano Twist
while buying a city car:
- The Tata Nano
Twist XT has been launched in India at a price of Rs. 2.36 lakh (ex-Delhi)
- Uniquely cute
& cool styling. A car that will make you smile
- New Electric
Power Steering makes driving and parking a breeze
- Innovative
packaging results in spacious interiors for 4 adults. Generous legroom &
headroom
- Peppy
performance at speeds 80 kph.
- Powerful
air-conditioner will chill you to the bone
- Small footprint
& tiny turning radius make the Nano a great urban runabout
Exterior:
Undoubtedly, the
most important change to the Nano in its Twist form is the addition of a power
steering unit (which we'll get to in the following posts). On the outside
though, the Twist has incorporated just a few subtle changes. Some of them are
purely aesthetic, whilst others have functional or cost-based reasoning behind
them.
The front of the
car features a chrome strip running along the lip of the bonnet. Viewed from
the front or side, it's hard to tell the Twist from any other Nano. It's at the
rear that we find details distinguishing the car. The hatch is garnished with a
“Twist” and “Nano XT” badge, along with a chrome strip running along the lower
border. The rear bumper has been altered and now has additional vents shielded
by a mesh grille to cool the rear-mounted engine. The passenger-side keyhole
(present on our earlier test car) has been removed. However, this shouldn't
pose much of a problem, as the Nano is equipped with remote keyless entry &
central locking.
The Twist is
available in six shades – Dazzle Blue, Papaya Orange, Pearl White, Meteor
Silver, Royal Gold and the newly introduced Damson Purple.
The dimensions
of the car remain unchanged. With the additional features it has gained though,
the kerb weight has risen to 660 kg, which is 60 kilos more than before.
Interiors:
The interior of
the Nano Twist has received more changes than its exterior. The instrument
cluster, which remains at the center of the dashboard, features a new
Multi-Information Display with an odometer, trip meter, distance to empty
counter and average fuel economy. A temperature gauge has been placed at the
top right corner of the instrument cluster, while the top left corner gets a
fuel gauge. The dials wear updated graphics, while the speedometer needle does
a full sweep on start-up.
The dashboard
recesses (on either side of the instrument cluster) have been provided with
covers, converting them into gloveboxes. The Twist has an AmphiStream music
system with a basic equaliser, USB, Aux-in and Bluetooth phone connectivity.
Four speakers have been installed – two placed at the extreme ends of the
dashboard (just beyond the gloveboxes) and two on the rear parcel shelf. The
basic sound quality, however, is nothing to write home about. Further, the
system faced difficulty in detecting Bluetooth devices (we tried both, an
Android phone & an iPhone).
The front power
window switches have been moved from their hard-to-reach position in front of
the gear lever, to behind it, making them far more accessible. A 12V power
socket now sits in the space ahead of the gear lever. The passenger-side sun
visor gets an integrated vanity mirror. Tata has left out the day / night
switch of the inside rear view mirror, which was present on the 2012 Nano.
On the
mechanical side of things, Tata claims to have repositioned the clutch pedal
and has given it a smoother action, based on customer feedback. The newly added
power steering motor is hidden away under the dashboard.
Electric power steering
The Tata Nano
was always a great car for urban use. With its small dimensions and tight
turning circle, it could fit into the tightest of parking spots and was easy to
punt around town. However, it had one problem when it came to driveability - a
heavy steering @ low speed. This meant that the Nano required quite an effort
to steer while parking and crawling in bumper to bumper traffic. With the
introduction of the Twist, Tata Motors has addressed this flaw. The Electric
Power Steering (EPS) system of the Nano Twist is developed by ZF Lenksysteme.
It has a brushless motor and features an active return function.
In a tight, low
speed, zig-zag course the Twist feels chuckable, sure-footed and eager to
change direction instantly. The steering is light and direct...exactly what is
needed to tackle such a course with confidence. While taking U-turns, the
active return function reduces the effort required to re-center the wheel.
These qualities will come in handy when driving the car through congested city
streets, which is where the Nano is likely to spend most of its life.
It's the
addition of the power steering that makes the Nano easier & more fun to
drive than before. In a straight line, as you build up speed, the steering
weighs up rather well too. The assistance from the power steering motor cuts
off beyond 80 km/h, giving you sufficient feel. On long, fast curves, it was
not over-sensitive or twitchy.
So what are
waiting for? Select your city to find out the ex-showroom price of Tata Nano
and Nano eMax powered by CNG, not to forget the all new Tata Nano Twist in
India today!
Reference:
Image: Tata Motors
