An Indian tuning company has created a Tata Nano that's set to cost £133,000 - the same price as a Lamborghini Gallardo. The ultimate indulgence for the bollygarch who has everything.
At £1,400 a pop, the original Tata Nano is the world's cheapest car. It has been heralded as bringing a new era of motoring in India and is designed to lure the middle classes away from their motorbikes. But critics forecast colossal gridlock.
Codenamed the DG490, the bespoke Tata Nano is the result of a complete overhaul. The Nano's two cylinder 33bhp 0.6-litre engine has been upgraded to a 1.6-litre engine which can propel the car to a top speed of 140mph. Markedly more than the pug-nosed hatch's usual top speed of 65mph.
Body panels, brakes, suspension and the interior have all been replaced. The DG490 gets gull wing doors, 20-inch wheels, seven-speed Tiptronic gearbox, ultra-lightweight carbon fibre body and cross-drilled ventilated brakes.
The back seats have been removed to make way for a liquid-cooled powerplant and the suspension system has been completely re-tuned to accommodate the extreme power-to-weight ratio, minimising risk of accidents.
DG490 is the brainchild of Mumbai-based DC Designs and it admits the DG490 is something of a niche product. The souped-up Nano DG490 will go on sale in May.