Bajaj is bringing 60,000 cars, know what is real
You might have stumbled across a forwarded message in your inbox or in
WhatsApp groups claiming that the leading bike maker Bajaj has taken
time away from the saddle to launch a new car touted to be the world's
cheapest car. And it portends greater tidings. You must be out now
seeking answers from Google. Well, you are not alone.
I was also flooded with an onslaught of queries on Bajaj's new car, its
specs, price, and yes, India's famed poser, 'kitna Deti hai?' (What is
the mileage?)
It is true that there has been a spurt of messages that read 'World's
Cheapest Car, Rs 60,000' and 'Online Booking Started Today Onwards' that
have been flooding inboxes of many people. While the source of messages
is not yet known, there is nothing new in there. And indeed, it is not
exactly a car but a quadricycle by Bajaj named Qute.
Qute was unveiled in India by the Pune based bike maker in September
2015. It was then widely considered to be a replacement to the
ubiquitous auto rickshaws that ply on Indian roads. However, its
legality in the country has been challenged in different courts and
multiple petitions are pending over safety concerns. At the moment,
Bajaj is waiting for the Supreme Court's nod to sell the quadricycle
models in the country. The verdict is expected soon. So far, we have not
heard from Bajaj about its launch in the country.
But what do we know about the Bajaj car?
Bajaj Qute Bajaj
Qute was earlier known as RE60. Powered by an all-new water-cooled 217
cc single-cylinder engine coupled with 5-speed manual gearbox, Bajaj
Qute claims a fuel efficiency of 36 kmpl and a top speed of 70km per
hour. In terms of dimensions, Bajaj Qute measures 2,752mm in length,
1,312mm in width and 1,650mm in height.
Qute was in the news last year around the same time when the safety
watchdog Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) hit out at the
company for making "misleading" claims about the safety rating for the
company's quadricycle Qute.