Tata Nano

With a snub nose and a sloping roof, the world�s cheapest car can hold five people � if they squeeze. And the basic version is spare: There�s no radio, no air bags, no passenger-side mirror and only one windshield wiper. If you want air conditioning to cope with India�s brutal summers, you need to get the delux version.

At 10 feet long, the Nano is about 2 feet shorter than a Mini Cooper. Its 623-cubic-centimeter two-cylinder engine is estimated to produce about 35 horsepower, good for a top speed of 75 mph.

Though the price has created a buzz, critics say the Nano could lead to possibly millions more automobiles hitting already clogged Indian roads, adding to mounting air and noise pollution. Others have said Tata (TTM, news, msgs) will have to sacrifice quality and safety standards to meet the target price.