Tata Nano copy Mitsubishi i-car???

The Mitsubishi i is a kei car from Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors, first released in January 2006, twenty eight months after its debut at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the first four door automobile since the 1960s to employ a "rear midship" setup with the engine behind the passengers, in an attempt to improve safety and interior space without enlarging the overall exterior.



Body and dimensions
A lightweight aluminium space frame structure and a rear-engined layout allowed Mitsubishi to incorporate a larger front crumple zone, in order to meet current safety legislation requirements without compromising interior space. With no powertrain in front of the driver, the designers were able to shorten the front overhang and lengthen the wheelbase to 2,550 millimetres (100.4 in), giving greater legroom for passengers than many comparable kei cars whose wheelbase is typically 130–190 mm (5.1–7.5 in) less.



Drivetrain
The i has a "rear-midship" engine mounted just ahead of the rear axle, a highly unusual configuration in a small car where front-engine design has dominated since the 1970s. The 3B20 three cylinder powerplant has an aluminium cylinder block, a displacement of 659 cubic centimetres, and incorporates double overhead camshafts with MIVEC variable valve timing in the cylinder head. Initially only an intercooled and turbocharged engine was offered, until a naturally aspirated version was introduced for 2007. A four-speed automatic gearbox transmits power to the rear or all four wheels, depending on specification.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/Mitsubishi_i_2.jpg

Suspension, brakes and tires
MacPherson struts are used in the front suspension, and an unusual three-link De Dion tube/Watt's linkage is used in the rear.[2] Front discs with anti-lock braking (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) are standard across the range. In common with many other mid- or rear-engined vehicles its fifteen inch wheels have uneven-sized tires, 145/65 on the fronts and wider 175/55 on the rears, in an effort to minimise the chances of oversteer caused by the rear-biased weight distribution.



http://www.dancewithshadows.com/blog/images/MitsubishiiCarforIndiasaysReuterspricean_BA36/icar34.jpg






Safety

Air bag (driver, passenger)


Engine/Transmission

3B20 (660cc) DOHC MIVEC Intercooled turbo
4 Speed automatic
Transmission shift knob - PVC
2WD (rear axle drive)


Suspension

Front suspension - Macpherson strut with coil spring
Stabiliser
Rear suspension - 3 link De Dion


Brakes

Park brake - lever type
4 wheel ABS with EBD
Front disc 13"
Rear drum 8"


Steering

Power steering
Steering lock
Steering wheel - 3 spoke urethane


Wheels

15" steel with wheel cover
Tire front - 145/65R15
Tire rear - 175/55R15
Tire repair kit


Operating Hardware

Centre door lock
Keyless entry with 1 transmitter
Alarm (horn, turn & buzz)
Child proof rear doors
Power windows
Door outer handle - colour key
Door inside handle - black


Glass

Glass colour - green
Windshield glass - laminated & IR cut
Privacy glass
Tailgate glass with hot wire


Seats & seat belts

Seating capacity - 4 persons
Driver's seat - slide, recline, height adjuster
Assistant seat - slide, recline adjuster
Rear seat - split back & fold with recline
Child restraint for ISO-FIX
Front seat belt - 3 point with ELR X 2
Pretensioner with force limiter
Rear seat belt - 3 point with ELR & ALR X 2


Instrument panel & consoles

Glovebox
Cup holder & tray
Passenger cup holder
Instrument panel upper box with lid
Floor console


Trim panel & soft trims

Front door trim - formed type with door pocket
Rear door trim - formed type
Floor mats & carpets - needle punch


Convenience items

Vanity mirror with lid & ticket holder - driver side
Vanity mirror with lid & ticket holder - passenger side
Electric door mirror - black
Foot rest
Roof spoiler with stop lamp


Heater & air conditioning

A/C (full auto)
Heat & A/C control - dial type


Chassis electrical

Halogen headlamps with levelling device
Front room lamp
Windshield wipe with variable intermittent
Rear window wiper & washer
Digital speedometer
Tachometer
Trip meter
Seat belt warning lamp (driver only)
Lighting monitor buzzer
Ignition key reminder
Seat belt warning buzzer
Reverse buzzer


Electrical accessories

AM/FM radio single MP3 CD
Speakers (front speaker x 2 & front tweeter x 2) 4
Roof antenna
Accessory socket on instrument panel




Engine 660CC DOHC MIVEC intercooled turbo
Transmission 4 Speed Auto
Displacement (cc) 660
Max power (DIN) kW @ rpm 48 @ 6,000
Max torque (DIN) Nm @ rpm 95 @ 3,000
Bore & stroke (mm) 65.4 x 65.4
Compression ratio 8.8:1
Fuel consumption - l/100km 5.4
CO2 - g/km 127
Tank capacity (litres) 35
Fuel Regular unleaded 91
Overall length (mm) 3,395
Overall width (mm) 1,475
Overall height (mm) 1,600
Wheelbase (mm) 2,550
Front track (mm) 1,310
Rear track (mm) 1,270
Kerb weight (kg) 900
Ground clearance (mm) 150
Turning radius (m) 4.5
Cargo capacity with rear seats up 268 litres
Cargo capacity with rear seats folded down 798 litres


Sources: Mitsubishi-motors.co.nz and Wikipedia

maybe it could be!
but interiors are light years ahead from nano!

yeah archit from its design and exterior part yes it seems nano design resembles this one but its interiors are far far way behind then this one from mitsubishi.

We get this car here in nz and I guess it's as big as the nano too. I wonder why it never came to India???Don't think it will come now.

Well yeah the exterior resemblance is spot on, especially the side view. But interiors are completely different.

@zal, how much does this retail?

its longer and wider then existing nano, but yeah any info how much does this retail zal??

Starts from $18000. So 540000 RS

That's on the higher side, for a car of this size.

Hey Zal thats really a good catch!!

Its really a good car but price is on Higher end!

Ya it is on the higher side for india. It could be called the rich mans mano.

:laugh: very true Zal

yeah just on the higher side,but with that size which is quite larger then nano with airbags,larger wheel base,features yes it would be on higher side.