Tata Nano Gets Visteon Audio System

Tata Nano will benefit from a Visteon audio system that can be fitted by the dealer, as well as a lightweight air intake manifold designed to offer quiet performance for the 2-cylinder Nano. The audio system is based on Visteon's "Tiger" radio platform and was developed jointly by the Visteon Technical Service Center in Chennai, India, and the Visteon China Technical Center in Shanghai, China.

"Visteon has been working very closely with us to make the Nano a reality. We appreciated Visteon's innovative engineering and manufacturing expertise to provide us with leading-edge solutions without compromising quality," Debasis Ray, a spokesperson for Tata Motors, said in a release.

The audio system features a customized bezel with a highly integrated human machine interface (HMI) and an innovative mounting system. Four variants of the audio system are available, from AM/FM radio with auxiliary input to a more sophisticated system including CD player, USB port and Bluetooth wireless technology capability.

Using plastic instead of traditional aluminum in the air intake manifold generates a 35 percent weight reduction. The acoustic performance is also improved with lower inlet orifice noise, vehicle interior noise and vehicle 'drive-by' noise levels.

The air intake manifold, which is made from a plastic material, was engineered by TACO Visteon Engineering (TVEC) and is manufactured by Tata Visteon Automotive (TVAP), both joint ventures between Visteon and Tata AutoComp Systems Limited.

"We are proud to support Tata's breakthrough initiative to offer the most affordable vehicle in the world," said Steve Meszaros, president of Visteon's electronics and interiors groups. "In supporting the Nano, we applied our expertise in supplying the low-cost and small car segments while leveraging our extensive global footprint to exceed our customer's expectation."