Auto Expo 2014: Maruti Suzuki launches AMT-equipped Celerio

Maruti Suzuki has introduced its much-awaited Celerio hatchback equipped with the newly developed, Suzuki-branded Auto Gear Shift transmission. Interestingly, Suzuki Motor Corporation has premiered the new technology in India, saying it is likely to follow in other global markets.

The automated manual transmission (AMT) is equipped with an Intelligent Shift Control Actuator, which is an electric-hydraulic 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, Suzuki says, permits synchronised control over the clutch, shifting, and engine for smoother gear changes. As well as bringing together the advantages of both manual and automatic transmissions, shifting time is shortened compared to conventional AMTs.

It is understood that while Italian component manufacturer Magneti Marelli has supplied the hardware for the AMT, Suzuki has gone ahead and further developed the unit. Magneti Marelli has supplied both the manual transmission and AMT to Suzuki.

Magneti Marelli’s AMT (also called Freechoice) is an electro-hydraulic mechanism for automating manual transmission and is derived from Formula 1. It combines the comfort of use with a reduction in consumption and can be applied to any transmission, with production costs that are consequently lower compared to traditional automatic transmissions.

Autocar Professional, in its October 1, 2013 issue, had reported that while Magneti Marelli has begun supplying this product globally for passenger car applications, it was set to introduce this product for the A, B and C car segments in India by end-2013 or early 2014. Clearly, the Celerio is the first recipient.

The Maruti Celerio squarely targets the Hyundai Grand i10 and has a claimed fuel efficiency figure of 23.1 kilometres per litre for both the Auto Gear Shift and Manual Transmission variants. Prices start from Rs 3.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the base LXi petrol with the manual gearbox. Prices for the automatic variants start at Rs 4.29 lakh for the LXi, making it the most affordable automatic in the country. These, however, are introductory prices, as has become the norm with Maruti launches of late, and are expected to rise at a later date.

Unveiling the Celerio, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD and CEO, said: “Maruti Suzuki has always believed in offering cars that set new benchmarks of technology, style and overall costs in India. The Celerio is the latest example that brings the path-breaking Auto Gear Shift technology in cars for the first time and that too, in the country’s most popular compact car segment.” 

Maruti Suzuki India says it has invested Rs 570 crore in the Celerio project and had 175 of its engineers working on developing it in Japan. Speaking to Autocar Professional, Mayank Pareek, Chief Operating Officer (Marketing and Sales), said the Celerio will be produced at the Manesar plant which, along with the Gurgaon plant, provides the carmaker a total capacity of 1.5 million units. Of this, 1.2 million units capacity is currently utilised, leaving ample production volume for the Celerio. He added that the car will at present be sold only in the domestic market and 30-40 percent of the bookings received are for the automatic version.

I V Rao, executive advisor (engineering), Maruti Suzuki India, said 98 percent of the Celerio has been localised with only the sensors and electronics being imported.

The market for automated cars in India is very miniscule today but in the past two years, automatic transmissions have been finding some acceptance in urban markets and also by women drivers who prefer to avoid shifting gears and using the clutch while moving in congested, bumper-to-bumper traffic. Later, the AMT is also expected to be on offer in light commercial vehicles. In the D and above segments, fully automated transmissions are predominantly used.