Maruti Suzuki Ignis AMT unveiled at GIIAS 2016; to be launched in India soon

Japanese carmaker Suzuki unveiled the Ignis crossover with AMT transmission for the first time at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2016 (GIIAS) on Thursday. The compact crossover is slated for India launch during the festive season and is expected to feature AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) here as well.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis made its India debut at Auto Expo 2016 in February. The company advertises it as urban compact crossover mainly targeting city dwellers. The crossover looks like hatchback in silhouette yet it features plastic cladding around its body and raised ground clearance stressing on its off-road focus. The Ignis is also expected in four wheels drive system that will make the vehicle ideal for weekend off-road trips. Having said that, Ignis is not expected to be a full blown off road machine.

The Ignis measures 3,700mm in length, 1,660mm in width, and 1,595mm in height. The vehicle comes with a wheelbase of 2,435mm and has a ground clearance of 180mm. On the inside, it will feature a dashboard with minimum number of switches and a three spoke steering. A tablet sized display will find place at the centre of the dashboard.

Under the hood, the Ignis is likely to get a 1.2-litre VTVT petrol engine and a 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel unit. The transmission choice apart from AMT is the five-speed manual. The AMT is expected on both petrol and diesel engine variants.

Ignis will be sold via Nexa premium dealership chain of Maruti Suzuki. When launched, it will rival the Mahindra KUV100. The Ignis is expected to get a price tag in the range of Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh.