http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=121707
PUNE, India — On the way to the launch of two ultra-cheap people's cars, Tata Motors addresses popular needs by launching two new minibuses to help with rural needs for public transportation. The new products are called the Magic and the Winger.
Ratan Tata, the visionary chairman of Tata Motors, aims to change the face of Indian transportation. In 2005 he turned the light-commercial-vehicle sector upside-down with the four-wheeler Ace pickup truck. The Ace had all the abilities of popular, motorcycle-derived three-wheelers but with one extra wheel and other amenities. It was so clearly the right product for its audience that Tata can barely keep up with demand for the truck.
The Magic minibus is intended to do the same for minivan needs on the subcontinent. It may not be the ultimate word in luxury, but the new Magic is way more modern than any similar offerings in India. It can seat up to seven people, and its 700cc 16-horsepower engine is sturdy and easy to maintain.
The other minibus is one class bigger. Called the Winger, it's a derivative of the first Renault Trafic, which was in production in Europe until 2001 but was kept in production in Malaysia until 2003. It is a 9-to-13-seat minibus with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine. It will pose a threat to used Japanese minivans and to the Hindustan RTV, a locally made robust commuter vehicle.
What this means to you: It is not always the fastest or most sophisticated vehicle that strikes at a deep need in the marketplace.
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Can't...stop...laughing... :rotflmao: