World's cheapest car being readied for sale in US

Tata Nano being retrofitted to meet emissions, safety standards

Tata Motors has European version of 4-seat car; will cost about $8K when it debuts in 2011

Nano Europa has air bags; passed European safety tests w/ flying colors

Nano gets 50 mpg on highway; top speed of 65 mph

Safety, emissions standards may bring cost to $8K as Tata weighs US launch in 3 years

Before being sold in US, engine would have to be engineered to meet US pollution standards

Air bags must be added, roof strengthened, front bumper lengthened

Spartan interior would have to be changed to comply w/ US safety standards

If $8K price tag holds true, it would cost far less than $9,970 Hyundai Accent

"The structural changes that would need to be made, the changes that would be required as far as emissions are concerned, and some of the features that would be appropriate to add to the vehicle for the North American market, obviously that would drive up the price point." -- Warren Harris, president, Tata Technologies