Maruti Celerio AMT in demand

Maruti's newly launched Celerio seems to have caught the attention of the Indian small car buyers. This certainly wasn't just another hatchback from the Indian car major as it was launched with a USP-India's first car to be equipped with an AMT (automated manual transmission). A recent report in a newspaper now claims that Maruti's new technology has outsold its manual sibling in every dealership across the country.

The Celerio AMT is available only in Lxi and Vxi variants, whereas the manual can be availed of in Lxi, Vxi and Zxi. The lack of a fully loaded Celerio AMT hasn't deterred buyers from shelling out for it. This also is a resultant of Maruti's clever pricing and the fact that the AMT equipped car is as efficient as the manual, according to ARAI efficiency figures. However, we believe that if there is sufficient demand, Maruti Suzuki may introduce a Zxi version of the AMT Celerio as the A-Star too had a Zxi variant.

The AMT transmission is fundamentally a manual transmission which works with an electro mechanical clutch actuator that works in tandem with two shift actuators to control the gearbox. Dealers have also revealed that a lot of first- time buyers who haven't driven an automatic gear are opting for the AMT equipped Celerio according to the report.

It is still early days for the Celerio and it would be wise to wait and watch the performance of the car in the long run. On a related note the Maruti Suzuki website no longer lists the A-Star hatchback signifying that it has stopped production of the model.