After problems with the main plant location delayed the launch which was originally scheduled for Oct., Tata said today that its much anticipated Tata Nano mini car will be launched on March 23 with sales to begin in the second week of April. Pricing for the Tata Nano is expected to come in around 100,000 rupees ($1,984 USD).

“The cars will be on display at Tata dealerships from the first week of April,” the company said in a statement.

Power for the Tata Nano comes from a small 624cc 33-hp engine that allows for a 0 to 60 mph run 17 seconds. Fuel-economy is estimated at 60 mpg. 

Source: Reuters

Saab, which pitches it cars as jets on the roads, announced today that it is teaming up with India’s Tata to build a version Gripen fighter jet. The $12 billion dollar deal is a chance for Tata to get in on the biggest fighter jet deal in the world in years.

Executive Kjell Moller said that Saab is competing with companies from Russia, Europe and the U.S. to sell a total of 126 fighter jets to the Indian air force.

India is looking to begin testing in April and said that it will buy about 24 units in flying condition and will built the remaining 100 at a state-run facility. The Indian air-force is the world’s fourth largest and has 51 Mirage-2000 war planes built by Dassault.

Source: AFP (via AutoBlog)

Tata owned Jaguar and Land Rover announced today that they will be cutting 450 jobs today due to a “severe” reduction in demand for new cars. The cuts include about 300 management level jobs and 150 salaried agency staff.

The group said that managers will not be receiving any bonuses in 2009 and management pay increases have been deferred to Oct. 1 of this year.

Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive David Smith said that he doesn’t expect sales condition to return to normal anytime soon.

“It is only right and proper that our response to the unavoidable impact of the credit crunch and a severe reduction in demand includes actions across all grades and functions in the company.”

Tata Motors, creators of the Tata Nano and owners of Jaguar and Land Rover, reported a huge sales drop for the month of December due to tight credit and the slowing global economy. Overall Tata sales fell 47 percent to 25,219. Passenger vehicles fell a total of 31 percent while commercial vehicles dropped 51 percent.

“A deepening recessionary trend in the economy, coupled with continuing credit squeeze and high interest rates, has further depressed customer sentiments. As a result, automobile purchases are being severely impacted,” the company said in a statement.

Maruti Suzuki India, owned 54.2 percent by Suzuki Motor Corp., reported a sales drop of 10 percent. Rival Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 30 percent drop.

Source: Reuters

• •  AJ-V6D Gen III S 3.0L twin-turbo diesel with 275-hp and 443 lb-ft torque.
• •  0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds; top speed of 155 mph.
• •  Estimated fuel-economy of 42mpg (35 mpg U.S.).

Prior to the launch of the Jaguar XF-R which is scheduled for the 2009 Detroit Motor Show next month, Jaguar has dropped the details on the new 2010 Jaguar XF Diesel S.

Powered by the most advanced, powerful and efficient Jaguar diesel engine ever, the 275-hp XF V6 diesel can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and 50 to 70 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even with that performance level, the XF Diesel S averages an estimated fuel-economy of 35 mpg. Jaguar says that it is 12 percent more efficient than the 2.7L V6 diesel XF and offers 33 percent more power and 61 percent more torque. The engine is mated to Jaguar’s 6-speed ZF 6HP28 automatic transmission.

There is also a 240-hp version of the 3.0L diesel engine available as well. It gets 16 percent more power and 15 percent more torque over the 2.7L diesel. 0 to 60 mph comes in just 6.7 seconds while fuel-economy comes in at the same 35 mpg.

Pricing for the 2010 Jaguar XF Diesel S and the 2010 Jaguar XF Diesel will be announced closer to its launch date. Unfortunately, there is no word whether the models will make it to the U.S. to take on the upcoming BMW 535d.

Click through for the high-res image gallery.

2010 Jaguar XF Diesel S:

Jaguar and Land Rover will be getting their own form of bailout. According to the Financial Times, Tata Motors will inject “tens of millions” of pounds into Jaguar Land Rover to prevent an immediate cash flow crisis.

“The company is spending whatever is required to the best of its abilities,” Tata Motors spokesman Debasis Ray told the press. “A company has to run. We are doing everything to make the company run.”

Ray declined to say exactly how much Tata Motors will allocate for Jaguar and Land Rover. Tata bought the two luxury brands from Ford for $2.3 billion. The new investment comes on top of a “hundreds of millions” of working capital it has already provided to the British firms reported Financial Times.

Source: Detroit News

It’s been previously reported that Tata Motors is in talks with Chrysler to sell Jeep Wrangler SUVs in India. At the recent Bologna Motor Show, Mahindra & Mahindra, a Tata Motors rival, sent out a message to Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli and Tata Motors CEO Ratan Tata that basically screams “Forget you guys – we can do it on our own.”

The concept you see above is a Mahindra & Mahindra produced concept that looks a lot like the Jeep Wrangler lineup . The open-top study is nearly 4 meters long and is powered by a 2.5 liter 108-hp engine.

We’re wondering what Nardelli and Tata think about this.

Source: Auto Motor und Sport (via TTAC)

While our friends at CAR Magazine didn’t get to drive the new and upcoming Nano from Tata Motors, they did get to sit in the passenger-seat of the 33-hp four-door, 5-seater. 33-hp? You’re probably thinking that with that much power the Nano probably rides like… well like crap.

According to CAR, the car feels much like a proper car – even with four adults aboard. The 624cc 33-hp engine is pretty small but allows the Nano to go from 0 to 60 mph in a whopping 17 seconds while returning an outstanding fuel-economy figure of 60 mpg.

The $2,500 Tata Nano doesn’t offer much; air-conditioning, radio and alloy wheels will all be offered as upgrades. However, CAR says that the prototype they rode in was pretty much standard and offered a very comfortable ride. The Nano will be able to accommodate one six-footer seated behind another.

How safe is the Nano? Not very safe at all, although it will be safer than a bike or scooter which is the market Tata Motors is going after.

CAR says that Tata engineers are working on a range of upgrades including airbags, anti-lock brakes, power steering, a more powerful 3-cylinder gasoline and diesel engine, and a 5-speed automatic gearbox (it currently carries a 4-speed manual).

Source: CAR

Detaching itself from Ford and introducing cars like the Jaguar XF, the British automaker has found new life and is looking to introduce some interesting models that could set aside the elegant and luxury image for the pussycat on the hood.

New owner Tata Motors is considering adding three new vehicles to the Jaguar lineup reports Automotive News Europe. The lineup includes a new coupe, a roadster variant of the new XF sedan and a new lightweight sports car that will compete with the Porsche Boxster. The 500-hp Jaguar XF-R is expected to debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

According to a dealer familiar with the plans, the coupe and roadster will be positioned below the Jaguar XK. The coupe will be unveiled next year followed by the roadster a year later.

Dealers also said that Tata is not planning a Jaguar SUV since it would compete with the Land Rover brand.