YouTube user Power Stroke has shared a short video comprising spy images of the upcoming Tata Nexon AMT. The AMT for the compact SUV is expected to be a 6-speed unit sourced from Magneti Marelli. Tata will launch the Nexon with the manual transmission sometime this month.
The images show the placement and styling of the gear selector. It looks identical to the one on Tata's existing AMT offerings, which include the Tiago, Nano, and Zest. The housing for the gear selector is different, however. Also, while the aforementioned products get a 5-speed AMT, Tata will offer the Nexon with a 6-speed AMT. Judging by the spy shots, the AMT variants of the Nexon will continue with multi drive modes. Seen here is the top-end XZ+ trim of the Nexon.
The company is betting big on automated manual transmissions and is aiming for its application in 50% of its future product portfolio. According to a media report from August, the Tata Nexon AMT launch will take place before the end of this fiscal year. Unlike Tata Motors' current AMT offerings which get either petrol (Tiago, Nano) or diesel (Zest) AMT variants, both petrol and diesel variants of the Nexon will receive the transmission.
Currently, amongst its immediate rivals, only the Ford EcoSport and Mahindra TUV300 offer optional automatic transmissions. The EcoSport gets only a petrol automatic variant with a 6-speed dual clutch transmission, the TUV300 gets a 5-speed AMT mated to its 1.5 L diesel engine. The usage of AMT will ensure the Nexon has a price advantage over the EcoSport at least.
[source - YouTube]
