Reference Auto

Tata Motors, known to produce highly fuel-efficient cars, is planning to score a century with launch of the Tata Megapixel, which is believed to deliver around 100 kms from a litre of fuel (but only under battery power) and it just may be ready for the global market in about a few years.

Wait for the vehicle could be at least three to four years.



This second surprise by Tata Motors (the first being the Tata Nano for Rs 1 lakh), which is an electric four-seater vehicle or more specifically termed range extended electric vehicle (REEV), will be ideal for city roads, the company said.

The car is an amalgamation of a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging while on the go.

The concept car can cover a range of up to 900 km (with a single tank of fuel), has mind blowing carbon dioxide emission of only 22 gm/km and fuel economy of 100 km/litre.

The Megapixel comes with the Zero Turn drive system of Tata Pixel that was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show last year. This feature takes the car to a higher level of manoeuvrability.

The car comes with four independent electric motors, one at each wheel, which is convenient for parking. When parking, the electric hub motors power the wheels in opposite directions. Meanwhile, the front wheels are turned at an acute angle, thus paving the way for a mind blowing 2.8 metre turning radius.

There is a home-charging system, which is a new induction charging system, where charging takes place when the car is parked over the induction pad.

Also, the Tata car’s floating C-pillar and wrap-around belt line finisher integrate seamlessly with the body surface.

The Megapixel’s double-sliding door system and B-pillar less design make entry and exit very easy and the car is very spacious. The Tata car can easily accommodate four adults with baggage.

While speaking during launch of the Megapixel, an upbeat Tata Motors managing director PM Telang said, “Tata Megapixel has been developed by our design centres in India, the UK along with Italy. It is our idea of a city car for eclectic motorists in any mega city around the globe.”

Battery-operated cars have hardly found a place in India but in three to four years, when the Megapixel is slated for launch, these cars could drive India’s growth and even the global market will move towards electric vehicles and battery-operated ones.

This will be mainly to cut pollution levels and stay away from the surging petrol prices. Therefore, the Tata Megapixel could turn out to be a globally-accepted car after its launch in three to four years.