Exploring India in a Tata Nano

Mr. Thomas Chacko, a Kochi-based, 62-year old, motoring enthusiast, today set on a 25,000, 80-day driving expedition in the Tata Nano 2012. Mr. Chacko has mapped this expedition and will not only drive across all state capitals and union territories, but also to India’s farthest reach like Kanyakumari in the south, Dwarka in the west, Kargil in the north, Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world, further most motorable point in the east, to Kibithoo, and Nagpur, the geographical centre of India. This drive will be a testimony of endurance of the man and the machine.  Embarking on this journey, Mr. Thomas Chacko says, “I have chosen the Tata Nano for this journey because it is a car that has put India on the world motoring map. Despite being the lightest car, and having the smallest engine currently in production worldwide, the Nano can take on every kind of road, especially with its clearance of 180 mm. I have driven a Tata Nano for almost 900 kms across cities and towns and also to Munnar, which is 5,000 feet above sea level.

I am now convinced that the Tata Nano will go wherever I take it on my trip.” In November 2011, Tata Motors introduced the Tata Nano with a bouquet of features -- of new colours, new interiors, a more powerful gasoline engine and even greater fuel efficiency of 25.4 kmpl, further improving on its record as India’s most fuel efficient petrol car.  Making the Tata Nano even more desirable, the car’s 624cc engine has been made more powerful delivering an impressive 38PS of power (earlier 35 PS) and 51Nm of torque (earlier 48 Nm). Yet fuel efficiency, already a high point with Tata Nano owners, has been taken to a new high of 25.4 kmpl (earlier 23.6 kmpl) as certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The high fuel efficiency, with a low kerb weight of 600 kg, ensures that the Tata Nano at 92.7 gm / km has the lowest CO2 emission among cars in India. With a top speed of 105 km and ability to negotiate inclines with a gradeability of 30%, and a class-leading turning radius of just 4 metres, the Tata Nano is a perfect combination of power and performance. The ride and handling, also already highly appreciated by existing owners, now has become even better with a revised suspension set-up, including an anti-roll bar at the front, and a steering mechanism made even easier. While the cabin is quiet, a racier sounding exhaust note now gives the Tata Nano a more assertive road presence.

Booster-assisted brakes, already available in the Nano CX and the LX, have now been added to the Nano Standard as well. The Nano CX and LX now have tip-tap mirrors on both the driver and passenger sides. For the Nano Standard, which already has a driver side mirror, the passenger side one can be installed as an accessory.  The interiors are completely new with enhanced premiumness in look and feel – luxurious beige in the Nano LX, rich black in the Nano CX and stunning medium graphite in the Standard version. The exteriors are a veritable vibgyor of 10 colours, eight of them new -- Pearl White, Rouge Red, Aqua Blue, Neon Rush, Serene White, Meteor Silver, Mojito Green, Papaya Orange, Sunshine Yellow, and Champagne Gold. Also, the new half or full wheel caps accentuate the distinctiveness. All the variants come with an unmatched warranty of 4 years or 60,000 kms, whichever is earlier. The Tata Nano has proved its robustness and reliability in many rally’s and expeditions undertaken by Tata Motors and by customers alone. The company will continue to encourage such expeditions as it will enable customers to further understand and experience the brand. Through this drive, Mr. Thomas Chacko plans to cover over 25,000 kms, in 80 days, traversing through diverse terrains and hopes to finish this expedition around July 20, 2012.  

About Mr. Thomas Chacko:

A 62-year-old, Kochi-based, motoring enthusiast, Mr. Thomas Chacko, is a FCS, from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. His professional career includes a long stint in company secretarial roles.  A motoring buff, Mr. Chacko has participated in several motorsport events. He is also a Formula One car racing aficionado, and has watched races in Sepang in Malaysia, Singapore, and Monaco. He likes traveling and has visited over 26 countries. He has also driven cars in Canada, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK & the USA. Mr. Chacko has written many published articles on motor sports. He has authored a novel – ‘Without a City Wall’, a historical set in 16th century, Europe and South India. He has co-authored and published a 200-page coffee-table book, ‘Forest Gold - The story of South Indian Tea’. Mr. Chacko owns a publishing company, Panthera Imprint.

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