Maruti Suzuki puts an automatic gearbox in its CNG Swift, Dzire and Baleno, priced from Rs 7,92,400
Maruti Suzuki has begun offering an automated manual transmission with three S-CNG models, including the Swift, Dzire and Baleno, the first time the two have been combined in these cars.
- 36.47 km/kg
- Rs 7,92,400
- 83,000 units
- 58% year on year
What Happened
Maruti Suzuki India Limited has started selling automatic versions of its S-CNG Swift, Dzire and Baleno under a programme it calls the Auto Green Mission. The company says this is the first time its automated manual transmission has been offered alongside S-CNG in these three models. It also claims the Dzire automatic S-CNG is India's most fuel-efficient sedan, returning 36.47km/kg.
Maruti announced the automatic S-CNG range in New Delhi as part of its Auto Green Mission. Autocar India has now published the full price list for the three models.
Power for all three cars comes from Maruti's Advanced Z12E 1.2-litre unit, a three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with variable valve timing on both camshafts and an idle stop-start system. Running on CNG, it makes 70hp and 102Nm. Drive goes through a five-speed Auto Gear Shift gearbox, which is Maruti's branding for an automated manual transmission.
The opening tags are separated by model. The Swift starts at Rs 7,92,400, the Dzire at Rs 8,53,100 and the Baleno at Rs 8,32,400. These are ex-showroom prices in India.
36.47km/kg
Maruti says the Dzire S-CNG AMT returns 36.47km/kg. Autocar India lists the Swift at 35.35km/kg and the Baleno at 34.47km/kg, while Sahi reports the Swift figure as 35.34km/kg.
CNG demand is the backdrop for the launch. Maruti's S-CNG sales were 58% higher year on year during Q1. Its July total, 83,000 units, was a monthly record for the company. The new automatic variants are pitched at buyers who want the convenience of two-pedal driving without giving up the fuel economy of gas.
Why this matters
Indian buyers looking at a CNG car have typically weighed cheap running costs against the ease of an automatic, and Maruti says this range offers both. The company claims the Dzire automatic S-CNG is the country's most fuel-efficient sedan. The launch comes as CNG demand rises, with Maruti's S-CNG volumes up 58% year on year in the first quarter.
Terms in This Story
- S-CNG
- Maruti Suzuki's name for its factory-fitted compressed natural gas vehicles and the fuel system they use.
- AMT
- Automated manual transmission, a gearbox that changes gear on its own but is built around a conventional manual unit. Maruti markets its version as Auto Gear Shift.
- Z12E
- The 1.2-litre engine family used in the Swift, Dzire and Baleno.
- Ex-showroom price
- The price of a car before registration fees, insurance and other costs that make up the on-road total.
A brief summary; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.