It looks like South Korean auto major Hyundai is looking to capitalise on the growing demand for AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) in India. If the latest reports are anything to go by, one of Hyundai's bestselling models, the Grand i10, may soon get an AMT variant in the country.
A report of MotorOctane claims the Grand i10 AMT will be launched in India in September this year. Recently, Renault India has also showcased the AMT avatar of its successful Kwid at the Auto Expo. According to the latest report, the AMT avatar of the Grand i10 will come with the facelift of the model. Although the changes in the Grand i10 facelift are not known yet, they are likely to be majorly cosmetic upgrades.
Originally launched in petrol and diesel variants, the Hyundai Grand i10 petrol variant packs a 1.2-litre Kappa engine that can churn out power of 82bhp and 116 Nm torque. The diesel model of the vehicle houses a 1.1-litre three cylinder U2 VGT motor engine that delivers 70bhp power and 163 Nm of torque. It is not sure which of these variants will come equipped with AMT.
Unlike Maruti and Tata, which get an AMT box from the purveyor Magneti Marelli, Hyundai will be getting its supply from Germany-based ZF Sachs. Currently, Maruti Suzuki, Tata and Mahindra sell AMT models in India. Renault's Kwid AMT is also expected to join the line-up soon.
