Bajaj Auto reveals its small car in Delhi: Calls it the RE60

Bajaj Auto have finally revaled their much talked about small car, earlier touted as the ULC Concept to media today at an event held at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace in New Delhi. For some reason, Bajaj Auto is still not calling this machine as a car, but terming it as a ‘four wheeled vehicle’ in its press release.

According to the official company statement, the vehicle has been developed fully in house. Does that mean that Renault, which was earlier a part of this project, doesn’t have anything to do with the product? The official statement somewhat suggests so. The company claims that the new car will set a global benchmark in terms of Co2 emissions at an incredible 60gm / km. The fuel efficiency of the car is said to be an equally amazing 35kmpl.

The car is rumored to be powered by a 200cc single cylinder engine with peak power output of 20bhp. The most important details about the new car are as mentioned below.

• A light weight and robust monocoque metal – polymer hybrid structure
• Water cooled DTSi 4 valve engine with a closed loop fuel injection system for better fuel efficiency and performance
• Bajaj claims a test fuel efficiency of 40kmpl, and expects the real world efficiency to be in the region of 35kmpl. Also, safely expect a CNG version.
• Low friction mechanicals for least power loss
• The top speed of the car is apparently ‘limited to’ 70 kmph
• Turning circle radius 3.5 meters (whoa!)
• Seating capacity is interesting: You can have the passengers seated in a 2+2 or 1+3 orientation based on the interior type.
• Length x width x height = 2752 x 1312 x 1650 mm
• The new car, or the new four wheeler, as Bajaj puts it, will come equipped with front and rear seat belts, solid doors and hard top, which the official statement calls ‘features’
• Tagline – A small, simple solution, to combat pollution!
• Bajaj Auto also plans to bring a CNG variant of the car at a later point.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Bajaj, MD Bajaj Auto said “At Bajaj we believe that the people of this planet deserve much better, much faster. We, therefore decided to focus on developing vehicles powered by engines using available natural resources and infrastructure. In the RE60, we have an immediate solution to pollution that doesn’t need new infrastructure, huge subsidies or time”

Rajeev Bajaj, however, stressed that the new Bajaj car is not meant for inter city travel. He clearly said that the car is being presented as an optimized solution for ‘intra-city passenger transport’. “This vehicle has been designed for intra-city use keeping in mind intra-city cycles and safety requirements.” He added.