JA Motorsport Transforms Tata Nano into 230hp Super Nano
Indian tuner JA Motorsport has unveiled the Tata Super Nano, a radical 230hp reworking of the city car featuring a 1.3-litre engine, racing hardware and track-ready modifications.
JA Motorsport has revealed the Tata Super Nano, a highly modified version of Tata’s budget city car, re-engineered to deliver 230hp and track-ready performance. The car was unveiled in December 2014, marking a dramatic departure from the original Nano’s utilitarian brief.
From city car to track special
The standard Tata Nano was designed as an ultra-affordable, practical runabout for India, powered by a 38hp two-cylinder engine and with a top speed of just 105km/h. JA Motorsport’s project strips away this modesty, replacing the original powertrain with a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine producing around 230hp, more than six times the output of the factory car. The transformation lifts the top speed to a claimed 190km/h, putting the Super Nano in a different league entirely.
The performance focus continues throughout the car. The Super Nano wears a full body kit, smoked lighting units, and sits on MRF ZLO racing slicks. Braking is upgraded with AP Racing hardware, and the interior is stripped of its rear bench to save weight. A bolt-in roll cage and Recaro seats are fitted for safety and support, while the dashboard gains carbon inserts and the steering wheel is replaced with a unit featuring paddle shifters.
Technical changes and conversion cost
JA Motorsport’s conversion required extensive reengineering. The larger engine, uprated brakes and racing tyres demanded modifications to the chassis and suspension. The company has not released full technical details, but the scope of the changes is clear from the hardware on display.
The cost of the Super Nano project was reported at Rs 25 lakh, or roughly £25,000 at 2014 exchange rates. For comparison, the standard Nano was among the world’s cheapest cars at launch. JA Motorsport’s conversion is not a production model but a showcase of what’s possible with the platform and budget no object.
A different direction for the Nano
Tata’s Nano was conceived as a basic, affordable city car for India, but JA Motorsport’s version is a one-off track machine that shares little with the original apart from its silhouette. While the Super Nano is unlikely to see series production, it demonstrates the engineering flexibility of the platform in the hands of a specialist tuner.
For a look at the Tata Nano’s original mission, seeTata Nano Showcases Fuel Efficiency with Jamaican Road Trip.
