Delhi 2010: Tata’s tuk-tuk, the Magic Iris!

Delhi 2010: Tata’s tuk-tuk, the Magic Iris!

Tata seems to be on a mission to improve motoring standards in India, to get people off bikes and trikes and into a four-wheeler. It started with the Nano, which low entry price gave families an alternative to cramming everyone on a bike. Now, the company has launched the Magic Iris at the Auto Expo in Delhi, which should be a decent alternative to the three-wheeled auto rickshaw common in India.

To be launched this year, the Magic Iris “is for public transportation, offering safer and more comfortable mobility for those who depend on three-wheelers”. The tiny body can sit five, including the driver, and occupants will be fully enclosed, unlike in tuk-tuks.

The Magic Iris is powered by a 611cc water cooled diesel engine. With a 10-litre fuel tank, it’s capable of longer distances than a three-wheeler and has a top speed of about 55 km/h. 11 bhp may not be much, but it’s more than what the auto rickshaws offer. Tata also promises lower maintenance costs and a higher load capacity than the popular vehicle it’s trying to replace.

Looks quite cute and cartoonish, don’t you think?

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Black Dog on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    My God, it looks horrible!!

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  • nabill on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    i tink its gonna tip over everytime u sneeze !

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  • Peter on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    This car is so "nice"…Maybe perodua can think of rebadging this van!!!!! It suits perodua…..Small car, small vehicle.

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  • hadi1975 on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    you kidding right, paul????? a 611cc diesel….a smiling, happy vehicle.. tata is creating cars for local market….

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  • mohd hafizzul on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    aku tengok keta ni dah mace mato 'SUPERMAN'….wakakak…Lucu gilo.

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  • kimi_ on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    It looks like CRAZY FROG…….LMAO

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  • not_ah_beng on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    Such a tall car……….can forsee a high centre of gravity means many will turned turtle.

    Should rebadge Passo Sette instead, or Honda Freed. :)

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  • Arashikage on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    If bring to Malaysia can replace 'prebet sapu' or not??

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  • mohsin on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    Love it.

    hey Paul, Can you post and write about Tata Aria MPV?

    it is also looks promising.

    Who knows if it a good turning point for Rajan besides the Nano

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  • alpha999 on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    such a 'cute' thing…..rim size '10 inch' ?

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  • moha3774 on Jan 07, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    Bold…

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  • looks like turtle face to me…

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  • haha…soo magical.

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  • prolover on Jan 07, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    although small and look fugly…..

    but the car is an ideal car…….

    and the diesel engine is a brilliant idea for a small van and its only 611cc…

    but still my grandfather KAPCAi does run faster than this car…

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  • dzulx on Jan 07, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    What a social contribution…. Salute

    But Indian might despise it in distance future… More vehicle more pollution..

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  • Mufasa on Jan 07, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    can tata come to malaysia? i dont think tata car quality is very good, so it give some fair competition to p1? or india got railway construction as contra of p1 to penetrate india market?

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  • klaka seram on Jan 07, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    they should put the front wheel more forward.

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  • Alpha on Jan 07, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    it looks like a rabbit yang patah kaki!!

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  • damn thats one fugly car, but its purpose is not to look good, rather to subsitute as a rickshaw transport.

    so looks aside, it pretty much wins over the rickshaw in everything else.

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  • keretakura on Jan 07, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    ha ha ha ha …. 1st impress …..

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  • Prismo on Jan 07, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    it's just better than a rickshaw…

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  • i think the car really reflects TATA… very very bollywood kind of ride…

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  • Jimmy Dean on Jan 07, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    Looks like ultraman face

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  • tiger kayu on Jan 07, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Looks like ET on rollers : )

    ET Phone Home…ET Phone Home…ET Phone Home…

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  • this is the real moving coffin….

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  • p4k4bu on Jan 07, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    Its passengers will enter/exit through the back door?

    Interesting…. ;-)

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  • kodok on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:06 am

    bukan mata superman.

    mata ultraman.

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  • Perodua Zero on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:07 am

    pwerodua will rebadge it..down worry..

    small comfort. better quality.and all malaysian can buy others Branded car..

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  • catchcart (Member) on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:15 am

    petrol is about RM5 per litre in India. Diesel is around RM3. Motorcyclist who would want to convert from 2 wheeler to 4 wheeler probably could only afford to buy diesel engined 4 wheeler. Tata sense a big market in this buyer's category…..let's see what will happen.

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  • kimi_ on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:21 am

    IF this is TOYOTA, sure can sell in Malaysia !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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  • Kamyongkai on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:23 am

    looks like a honda city, not literally.. but like a baboon.

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  • Elvis on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:33 am

    Perhaps Proton or Perodua should come out with its own tuk-tuk for Malaysia market. Petty those 'kereta sapu' using Perodua Kancil…

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  • the engine is located at the front or at the back? what will happen if its going downhill with a driver and front passenger then hitting an emergency brake?

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  • mystvearn (Member) on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:35 am

    Ugly car. 10L fuel, not going that far when carrying five people. So where is the engine? Is it that small?

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  • like MJ…

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  • my boy-boy love the look of this van….he want to paint "Ben10" on this car

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  • i am still wondering why do they design the crumple zone to be so far to the front. the reaosn why some car manufacture put the wheels wayy up front to be part of force absorbtion.

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  • suitable for india magic road

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  • xatomic on Jan 08, 2010 at 1:20 am

    Think it is not right to compare to a normal car at them. To them, beats sitting in rickshaw or motorbike

    Some heavy vehicles zooming past this car fast enough can make it topple, if not the least sway like hell

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  • Cyberkayu on Jan 08, 2010 at 1:43 am

    box with 4wheels

    ….

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  • lchan on Jan 08, 2010 at 1:48 am

    man..this thing has got a COG so high that it looks like it can tilt over anytime while standing still!

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  • Neutral on Jan 08, 2010 at 2:02 am

    1st in my thought is this car shouldn't be allowed into highway PLUS.dangerous bcos too slow!!!

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  • initial R on Jan 08, 2010 at 2:24 am

    Can bring in to malaysia for replace Melaka & penang beca… sure looks nice…. :)

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  • cars-addict on Jan 08, 2010 at 2:26 am

    i think this tata suits india…

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  • trav_da_man on Jan 08, 2010 at 2:31 am

    Dont tell me even with inputs of prodrive like the later article 5-10 years later we still see such crap in India. sweat!

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  • hiruma kecil on Jan 08, 2010 at 2:38 am

    sangat menarik perhatian.. kejap je dah 40 komen lebih..

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  • techboy_88 on Jan 08, 2010 at 3:05 am

    it's Tata's Keicar model (again).

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  • zaff1984 on Jan 08, 2010 at 3:14 am

    scary….

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  • taboogen on Jan 08, 2010 at 3:28 am

    i thought so someone will say it is nice….what da….

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  • Gajen on Jan 08, 2010 at 4:05 am

    nano…then aria…now this…quite a good move from tata,suitable for places like india thailand etc…definately not malaysia…

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  • bga jd ank m`sia! on Jan 08, 2010 at 4:25 am

    WTH*! SO FUNNY! LOOKING! LOL!

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  • radsan on Jan 08, 2010 at 4:29 am

    alien face…

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  • Elvis on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:00 am

    This car look like trying to scare indians…

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  • taiklembu on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:00 am

    Another sucks from india, similiar monkey face, they should engaged italian . Where been local talent? shame2!

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  • Najibest on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:29 am

    600cc diesel engine? damn that should be the holy grail of fuel efficiency….why can't we have 1 of those?

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  • kobealex on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:36 am

    hmmm… no aerodynamics needed for this? :D

    n yea… look like an alien smiley face!

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  • asgard on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:38 am

    TATA GOODBYE

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  • Vinish on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:58 am

    Looks good

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  • mohit on Jan 08, 2010 at 6:42 am

    very good looking with good efficiency

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  • Luqman Rohaizat on Jan 08, 2010 at 7:03 am

    Lime green paint job screams optimism, but optimism cannot hide the fact that the exterior design is bad, really bad. I sincerely believe the smart people at TATA can do better in their product design, while still being able to limit their budget. Its seems like they're not trying to reach their full potential…where's the effort? Cheap can be excellent too. Go, India! TATA should try harder.

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  • hanif thange on Jan 08, 2010 at 7:03 am

    TATA YOU ARE THE TAJ OF INDIA.YOU ARE THE JEWELE IN THE CROWN OF INDIA.KEEP THE GOOD WORK UP. MY BEST WHISHES TO TATA AND ITS ENGNEERS.

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  • alansmithz (Member) on Jan 08, 2010 at 7:13 am

    Look 1000x better the the fugly Proton Sawi. I haven't even mentioned the uglist vehicle everr created by mankind >>Proton Juara<<

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  • Neo.S on Jan 08, 2010 at 7:19 am

    sure alot of tuk-tuk sound coming out …..

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  • Malaysia memang bole on Jan 08, 2010 at 7:45 am

    Ugliest car ever.looks like someone asking for a slap

    even savvy is million times better than this frog

    even juara is way better than this box

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  • i thk it'll be better alternate of rikshaw….. nice

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  • Car carzy on Jan 08, 2010 at 8:35 am

    This thing sucks big time. I wonder who designed this thing. You can keep this as an example of how NOT to design an automobile. TATA u can make cheap cars but they look cheap as well… I would be ashamed to travel in one of these. GOD save us please!

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  • chuasoilek on Jan 08, 2010 at 10:35 am

    can be dumb n dumber's ride 4 next movie..

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  • Mmmm i m thinking ver 2 start, ok first of all its better den BIKE & RIKSHA if u think about safety,much safer den BIKE & RIKSHA,as it is diesel must be ECONOMICAL for middle class people to own it and utilise it, buying vehicle is not only DIFICULT but after buying the vehicle it is also important for the person to AFFORD the MAINTENANCE and FUEL,and this UGLY but USEFUL vehicle is delivering both to indias middle class, i bealive something is BETTER den nothing,i hope in future TATA will not ask KIDS to design vehicle but use more PROFESSIONAL designer to put xtra effort in DESIGN & SAFETY,this vehicle looks bit tall and not much ground distance between tyres,like the DIESEL concept,i hope TATA will provide free insurance to all buyer of this TOY VAN.but i am saluting THE TATA to make something for middle class of india who never thought that they can afford to buy 4 wheeler,THANKS TATA, i am giving 6/10, I LOVE MY INDIA & ALL INDIANS WITHOUT THEIR CAST/RELIGION/REGION.

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  • azrai on Jan 08, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    Juara's ugly sister. :-)

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  • Leonardo on Jan 08, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    I have rode on an 'AutoRiksha' (not tuk tuk, Paul) in Mumbai and Delhi and this is way safer and comfortable. Well you can say it looks like a grasshopper or whatever but i think is suitable for Indian roads and users. It would be pointless to compare it with a Guigaro or Bertone designed car, cos Styling is last on the priority list.

    TATA is doing something good for India market and i don't think they will be exporting this vehicle any time soon. Anyway their internal market is already sufficient without exporting.

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  • 112bz on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    i'll drive that. Cute and fun!

    In Japan, you can see worst than this.

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  • mitlanevo on Jan 08, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    for short distance, this is perfect, much better than riding a bike…

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  • JACK HAMMER on Jan 08, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    alansmithz said,

    January 7, 2010 @ 11:13 pm

    Look 1000x better the the fugly Proton Sawi. I haven’t even mentioned the uglist vehicle everr created by mankind >>Proton Juara<<

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    hahaha..

    this guy try really hard to be a basher..

    if TATA put their emblem on a COW DUNG also he will say.. CUUUUN..

    hahahaha….

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  • JACK HAMMER on Jan 08, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Peter said,

    January 7, 2010 @ 1:10 pm

    This car is so “nice”

    ________________________________________________________________________

    WTF?? hahaha..

    u must be ridding a GWIZ rite now..
    http://www.carpages.co.uk/news/news-images/gwiz_1…

    TATA only sold 18 vehicles here last year..

    if they bring this van here.. it's a suicide…

    and 1st person to commit that is YOU..

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  • if sell in malaysia, should be more like beca replacement model.

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  • Annoy-nimal on Jan 08, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Funny looking car which might only suit Indian market. But at least they dont plagiarize other peoples designs like China manufacturers.

    The van looks as if its going to roll over its roof under braking… then again, I suppose they dont use their brake that much over in those parts of the world… should work well with Hindi movie stunts.

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  • djmeng on Jan 08, 2010 at 8:03 pm

    honda freed away better……paul should review that than this experiment vehicle..

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  • squawk on Jan 08, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    Looks are subjective lah. A lot of kei cars won't even pass our 'appearance' standards but sell well in Japan.

    At least they're trying to get people off bikes & trikes and into something relatively safer.

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  • Fuyooo.. magic betulla..

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  • Elvis on Jan 09, 2010 at 4:23 am

    When will our local manufacturers start to produce 'kereta sapu replacement models', or 'beca replacement models' or 'taxi buruk mercedes kelantan replacement models'….

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  • this is on the likes of what the Japanese use. If u dunno what i mean go to Tokyo. U will see worse ones

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  • SY0H (Member) on Jan 09, 2010 at 7:27 am

    This would be the next Proton Juara replacement model!

    Proton, please get this into our local market and sell is RM100k without AP of course!!!

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  • joseph on Jan 09, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    guys u are missing the point !!! its not abt aerodynamics, styling or any of the exteriors!! if its exteriors u r concerned with, take a bajaj auto !! what is the styling quotient??? so f**k that !!! talk of the purpose, talk utility, talk economics of an average auto driver trying to maitain hiis GAADI!! talk of pasenger comfort, talk of a workeable solution to travelling/ driving in a back bending useless-suspension rickshaw almost everyday for almost 18 hrs of the day !!! ever done that ???? see the point ????

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  • There will be some idiots always to comment negative for every move someone make to improve the standard of living. This is a replacement for Auto Rickshaw and NOT for those who want to purchase a car.Are you crazy enough to think TATA is releasing this vehcle without passing the security tests? 'N look?? Far better than the Rikshaw and much safe than it. Congratulate TATA!!

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  • Peter on Jan 10, 2010 at 12:39 am

    JACK HAMMER said,

    January 8, 2010 @ 10:42 am

    Peter said,

    January 7, 2010 @ 1:10 pm

    This car is so “nice”

    ________________________________________________________________________

    WTF?? hahaha..

    u must be ridding a GWIZ rite now..
    http://www.carpages.co.uk/news/news-images/gwiz_1…

    TATA only sold 18 vehicles here last year..

    if they bring this van here.. it’s a suicide…

    and 1st person to commit that is YOU..

    Bro, i say it is "nice",….Not nice………"nice" = not nice la…..simple english leh….

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  • Peter on Jan 10, 2010 at 12:59 am

    Btw, i already had my persona . So i dont think i will be buying anymore car from now. Maybe i will wait for the next global version of persona in 2012.

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  • Waiora on Jan 11, 2010 at 4:44 am

    my kapchai has 14hp…from 125cc….

    and they say 1.3 campro drinks fuel…because underpower…

    now?

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  • Jessen on Jan 12, 2010 at 4:14 am

    The car looks like a frog… seriously ugly….

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  • posters on Jan 14, 2010 at 6:18 am

    maybe suitable in india.. but i dont think it is a good idea to bring that thing here… malaysia people should get better quality design car not things like this…

    for the first time… juara looks better if put side by side with this thing…

    i wonder.. time brek tayar blakang benda ni tercunggit tak…? or maybe not enuff hp to do that…

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  • David Fyfe- Jamieson on Apr 07, 2011 at 1:53 am

    Where can I buy a Tata Tuk-Tuk ?

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  • Sujit mondal on Feb 02, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    Good

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