Auto lovers in India are showing a growing affinity towards automated manual transmission (AMT) and carmakers are wasting no time in using the opportunity. Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest carmaker, was the first to bring the AMT technology to India in its Celerio, and it was soon followed by Tata Motors. The list did not end there. The year 2016 welcomed many new AMT models, and the surprising bit was that the carmakers just did not focus on the AMT in small cars, but rolled out the technology in sedans and SUVs too.
We list here the AMT models that came to the market in 2016, from Renault Kwid AMT hatchback to Mahindra NuvoSport compact SUV and Nissan Terrano AMT SUV.
Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire AMT
The Swift Dzire was the first model to get AMT technology this year. Maruti Suzuki, which calls the AMT as AGS (Auto Gear Shift), currently has four models in its AMT portfolio — the Celerio AMT, the Alto K10 AMT, the WagonR AMT and the Swift Dzire AMT.
The Dzire AMT, the fourth AMT model from Maruti's stable, is available in the top-end ZDi variant of DZire. Under the hood, Dzire AMT gets the same tried-and-tested 1,248cc DDiS diesel engine, which generates 73.9bhp of power at 4,000rpm and 190Nm at 2,000rpm peak torque. The Dzire AMT claims to offer a mileage of 26.59kmpl, same as that of the one with manual transmission. In terms of style and design, the new Swift Dzire AMT remains the same as the current model, except for the rear AGS badging.
Renault Duster AMT
French carmaker Renault did not disappoint its patrons in India. The company brought its popular Duster SUV in the AMT line-up in 2016. The Duster AMT was launched in the country on March 2. It comes with 6-speed Easy-R Automated Manual Transmission and claims to deliver a mileage of 19.72 kmpl (ARAI). As for changes in the AMT avatar, the Duster gets re-styled front and rear fascia and features electrically adjustable ORVMs with turn indicators, LED tail lamps, new head lamp cluster, roof rails and 16-inch alloy wheels. With the AMT roll-out, the company also introduced a new Cayenne orange exterior colour in the Duster SUV colour palette besides the existing colour options.
Mahindra NuvoSport AMT
Mahindra and Mahindra, the popular home-grown UV-maker that already has TUV 300 AMT in the line-up, expanded the range with the addition of NuvoSport AMT in 2016. It launched the new compact SUV in India on April 4. The NuvoSport is a tweaked version of the Quanto. Powering the new NuvoSport is a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder diesel mHawk100 engine, which is tuned to belt out 100bhp of power and 240Nm of peak torque. The transmission is taken care of by a five-speed manual gearbox. The engine gets two drive modes — Power and Economy — and claims to offer a mileage of 17.45 kmpl.
Nissan Terrano AMT
Japanese carmaker Nissan announced the launch of the automated manual transmission (AMT) avatar of the Terrano SUV in India on October 5. The Terrano AMT was priced starting at Rs 13.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Terrano AMT, which the company calls the Terrano 6 speed advanced auto drive, is available in the top-of-the-line XVD Premium Terrano. It also comes in the new Sandstone Brown body paint, in addition to the existing colour line-up of Bronze Grey, Sapphire Black, Blade Silver, Sterling Grey, Pearl White and Fire Red.
The AMT avatar of the Terrano comes powered by 1.5-litre diesel engine, which is tuned to generate 108bhp of power and 248Nm of torque, mated to all-new 6-Speed Advanced AMT (Automated Manual Transmission). The Terrano AMT claims to offer a mileage of 19.61kmpl.
Renault Kwid AMT
Renault had yet another AMT launch this year, after the Duster AMT was brought out in the beginning of 2016. Renault pulled the wraps off its much-awaited Kwid AMT on November 11 with a price tag of Rs 4.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Renault Kwid, which truly changed the game for the French carmaker in the Indian market, stays true to its original version in its new AMT version except for minor tweaks to accommodate the AMT box. The Kwid AMT now gets Shift Control Dial, which offers three driving modes — Reverse, Neutral and Drive — and is placed at the centre bottom of the dashboard next to the control button for door lock. The new Kwid AMT is available in the top-end RXT variant of the car, and comes powered by a 1.0-litre engine that can churn out 67hp of power and 91Nm of torque. The Kwid 1.0 litre AMT claims to deliver a fuel efficiency of 24.04 kmpl, which is higher than the mileage of Kwid 1.0litre that stands at 23.01kmpI.
