Contrary to a previous report which indicated that Maruti could extend AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) technology to its upcoming sedan Maruti Ciaz, Autocar India says that there are no such plans. According to a company source, AMT is considered to be a 'poor man's automatic', and will not do justice in a premium segment.
Instead, the automatic version of the Ciaz will use a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). This will ensure an even playing field for the Ciaz, as it rivals the new Honda City which also comes with a CVT. Other rivals either use a torque converter (Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid) or a dual-clutch gearbox (VW Vento, Ford Fiesta).
The Ciaz is expected to launch towards the festive season this year, most probably in the July-August period. A report earlier this month revealed that Maruti had already completed trial production of the Ciaz at its Manesar facility in Haryana. The same report mentioned that production of the SX4, the Ciaz's predecessor, had come to a stop.
While Maruti showcased the concept Ciaz at the Auto Expo in February this year, a near-production ready model, called Suzuki Alivio for the Chinese market, was shown at the Beijing Motor Show last month.
[Source - Autocar India]
