The Nano is one of the boldest and most fascinating back-to-basics small cars since the original Mini. Designed to lure India's burgeoning middle classes away from two-wheelers, it received much publicity because of its suggested price of 100,000 rupees-roughly $2,000. When the car went on sale in 2009, the price was closer to $2,230, including taxes and delivery, or $3,800 for the most expensive version. That still made the Nano the world's cheapest car, even if the price represented roughly 80 percent of the average annual salary in India.