$2,000 Car Debuts

Find yourself pinching pennies at every turn? Why not eschew the creature comforts you expect in a car? Power steering, A.C., radio, airbags—Who needs it? Looking to capitalize on the large amount of motorcycle riders in India, a company there has launched the Tata Nano, a tiny five-seater that does nothing more than get its passengers from point A to B. The carmaker is expecting to make big bucks... eventually. Even if the Tata sells like gangbusters, it won't turn a profit for six years. It remains to be seen whether the car will make it to the states, partly due to the obvious safety concern: With no airbags and a frame made of sheet metal and plastic, how would the Tata Nano fair on Route 66?