gold-plated nano

The Nano, known as the world's cheapest car, is about to become one of the most expensive, with a gold-plated model set to be released.

Indian company Tata Group has joined forces with Titan Jewellery to create the expensive car – which reportedly won't be offered for sale –  and is holding a contest to allow people to pick one of three designs that have already been chosen as contenders for the car's luxury look.

The standard Nano retails in India for approximately $2,200, and is widely labelled as the cheapest car in the world.

But the upcoming Goldplus Nano is alleged to be the world's first fully gold-plated car.

One proposed car design has a sun-like feature at the bottom-centre of the car hood, with golden "rays" extending to the top, left and right of the hood. The side door also has a pink sunburst design with extending rays.

Another contender is painted white with extensive gold and jewelled accents, including teardrop-shaped emeralds below the hood, encircled by gold. It also has golden accents at the top of the windshield, side windows, and carefully designed over the body of the car.

The other potential choice has more of a textured look, with a design and texture to the gold that covers the body of the car. It has an overall gold and silver look. A blue ribbon design with writing goes around the hood of the car. There are also blue accents on the side door.

The Hindu Business Line reported that the head of the jewellery division at Titan Industries, C.K. Venkataraman, described the new Nano as the "most potent symbol of new India."