Currently reading: Tata Magic Iris to replace bikes

Five-seater budget car aims to get people off three-wheeled bikes

The Tata Magic Iris has been unveiled at the Delhi motor show, and like the Nano it is designed to get people off bikes and into cars.

The five-seater Magic Iris seats two up front and three in the back, and has a 611cc water-cooled diesel engine. It delivers 11bhp - more than the typical three-wheeled motorbike - and has a top speed of 34mph.

Tata Magic Iris picture

Construction is basic: its sheet metal roof, car headlamps and tail lights are all heralded as steps forward in safety over a three-wheel bike. It is available on 12-inch radial or 10-inch crossply tyres.

No prices have been released, but it will go on sale this year and Tata promises it will have a lower maintenance costs and a higher load capacity (and therefore earning potential) than a three-wheeled bike.

autocar India

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tannedbaldhead 7 January 2010

Re: Tata Magic Iris to replace bikes

tannedbaldhead wrote:
Looks like it would fall on its face 1st time the driver has to break hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE5m9aaVoPE&feature=related

Get it right mind you and you'll be king of the car park. Citroen Saxo burnouts? Pah!

tannedbaldhead 7 January 2010

Re: Tata Magic Iris to replace bikes

Looks like it would fall on its face 1st time the driver has to break hard.

tapz 7 January 2010

Re: Tata Magic Iris to replace bikes

Costs as much to buy as a very posh pushbike ($2000.- apparently), and would probably cost as much to run as a scooter here. Perhaps even less, given that it's a diesel. If they'd offer it, I'd be very seriously tempted- cloth side windows and 50 KM/h top speed included.

Just like the original 2CV: stop thinking about it as a car, and it starts to make all sorts of sense