Maruti Suzuki launches Dzire diesel AMT at Rs 8.39 lakh

Maruti Suzuki India has launched the top-spec Dzire ZDi with an AMT (automated manual transmission) at Rs 8.39 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). This is the first diesel-engined model and the first sedan from Maruti to be equipped with this gearbox. Three other Marutis – the petrol-engined Celerio, Alto K10 and Wagon R – are available with Maruti’s Auto Gear Shift, its brand for AMT.

Test mules of the Dzire AMT were seen last year, indicating that the carmaker had been working on the Dzire diesel AMT for some time now. 

Mechanically, the Dzire AMT uses the same 74bhp 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine like the standard diesel Dzire mated to a Magneti Marelli-supplied AMT gearbox. The model has only one direct rival in sight, the Tata’s Zest compact sedan which also gets a diesel-AMT configuration. However, the Zest comes with a more robust 89bhp version of the same 1.3-litre diesel engine, sourced from Fiat and is also available in two variants, both are priced (Rs 7.33 lakh and Rs 8.15 lakh) lower than the Dzire AMT. 

The Maruti Dzire ZDi comes with equipment such as dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, alloy wheels, climate control system and push button start to name a few.

R S Kalsi, executive director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Auto Gear Shift, a two-pedal technology, enables customers to drive with comfort and convenience, especially in congested city conditions, without any compromise on fuel efficiency. Maruti Suzuki introduced the AGS technology in India with the Celerio and we currently also offer it in the Alto K10 and Wagon R. We now offer Auto Gear Shift technology in the Dzire diesel as well.”

The Dzire with AGS will deliver a claimed fuel efficiency of 26.59 kilometres per litre, the same as that of the manual transmission. The Dzire is one of the best-selling Marutis and till date has sold over 115,000 units, making it the only sedan in India to cross the million units sales mark. 

AMT technology is giving Maruti sales a new fillip. Its Auto Gear Shift, also known as Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), is equipped with an Intelligent Shift Control Actuator that automatically performs clutch and shift operations. Auto Gear Shift combines the actuator and controller and directly mounts them in the transmission in order to unify the working components. This permits synchronized control over the clutch and engine for smoother gear changes. The shifting time is also shortened as compared to conventional automatic transmissions.

Rising sales of Maruti's AMT-equipped cars 
Maruti introduced its AMT first on the Celerio in February 2014, the Alto K10 in November 2014 and then on the WagonR in November 2015.  Over the years, the carmaker has seen sales of its AMT-equipped cars rise. From 3,700-odd cars in 2013-14, sales grew to nearly 30,000 units in 2014-15 and 39,500 units in the first eight months of 2015-16.

The Dzire sedan is a popular buy in India (it has sold a total of 164,659 units in April-November 2015; 51,694 petrol and 112,965 diesel), and the addition of an AMT should give sales – particularly in for the higher selling diesel variant – in congested India cities, a fillip.  

Recommended: India Sales Analysis -- December 2015