Students Build a Rs. 1 Lakh Car That Will Deliver 32Km/l
An engineering college in Mangaluru, thought long and hard, put together their travel experiences and then decided to make a car for the common man. They put a bike engine in a car to make it affordable.
Every now and then we hear car manufacturers tell us about the research and development that they do when it comes to making cars according to their customer's needs. But an engineering college in Mangaluru, thought long and hard, put together their travel experiences and then decided to make a car for the common man.
A car that will not only be affordable but also be a substitute for those wanting to upgrade from a bike; and that's what they strived at. According to Professor Rounaq Ahmed, "There's sunshine for 6 months here in Mangaluru and it rains the other 6; and most of the people here travel on bikes, which during the rains can be extremely dangerous, which is why we came out with this idea."
The 'we' includes some students pursuing Mechanical Engineering and professors who guided in their pursuit to make a car for the common man. Well, the idea was a simple one; a tried and tested one at that; taking the engine from a bike and making a car of it. We've seen Volkswagen do it and though a concept, it worked well. The idea, therefore is not new but the students and the professors of the Bearys Institute of Technology have made a car by doing just that. They took a 150cc engine from a Bajaj Pulsar and took some additional spare parts to build a car that would be ideal for a place like Mangaluru.
"We wanted to build a car for the common man and we managed to do it with the help of the students. The 150cc, 4-stroke bike engine has been used in this car which can carry two people easily. Since it is a single cylinder air cooled engine this vehicle does not require radiator or cooling systems," said Prof. Ahmed.
The total kerb weight of the car is 280Kgs and this is because of the extensive use of aluminium. The weight has a drastic change on the way it performs. The car can hit a top speed of 80Km/h and return a fuel economy of 32Km/l. We asked about the fuel tank capacity and were told that the tank can be designed to whatever capacity is needed. The car has been tested off-road as well as on road on the outskirts of Mangaluru city, and the results have been promising.
Well, the fact remains that the design of the car is a pretty rudimentary. However, let us not forget that this is merely a prototype and improvements will be made. They've even made a cover for it for when it rains. But making it a proper car will mean more investment. The car was made with a budget of just Rs. 50,000, but with all-new components the single car price may go up to Rs. 1 lakh. However, mass production may also reduce the cost further.
We aren't denying that there are a few things that need to be ironed out but the idea isn't a bad one. Considering that India is the second largest two wheeler manufacturer in the world, it makes perfect sense to develop cars which have an engine of a two-wheeler. Now, who's game?
The exclusive styling package accessories are available at an additional cost of Rs 31,999 and will be offered across all Toyota dealerships nationwide.
Tata Nexon becomes India’s top-selling car in September 2025. To mark the occasion, Tata has added ADAS in the line-up and launched the new Red Dark Edition across petrol, diesel, and CNG variants, starting at Rs 12.44 lakh.
With a production run of just 1200 units worldwide, the Speed Triple RX is a track-focused version of the Speed Triple RS with premium cycle parts, lightweight components and a unique livery.
Roadster or sport tourer? And to answer that question we have the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 in a head-to-head comparison with the 2025 Bajaj Dominar 400.
We test the new Tata Harrier EV to find out how far it can really go. Real-world range, driving impressions, features, verdict, and everything else. We got you covered.
When it comes to making EVs, Porsche knows a thing or two. So when the Macan EV become electric-only in its second-gen, how much of the iconic Porsche DNA does it retain?
Is the Honda CB 125 Hornet just a flashy commuter or a serious contender for the top spot in the segment? We spent a few days with the new CB 125 Hornet to find out.
The Curvv EV and Creta EV offer compelling options for both first-time EV buyers and those looking to trade up from a smaller segment. But which of these two EVs is the pick of the bunch?
