New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited has introduced automatic S-CNG versions of the Swift, Dzire and Baleno as part of its newly announced Auto Green Mission, combining factory-fitted CNG technology with the company’s Auto Gear Shift transmission.
The Dzire automatic S-CNG delivers a claimed fuel efficiency of 36.47 km/kg, which Maruti Suzuki says makes it India’s most fuel-efficient sedan.
The three models are powered by Maruti Suzuki’s Advanced Z12E 1.2-litre engine, which features Dual Variable Valve Timing, or Dual VVT, and Idle Start Stop technology. The engine is paired with the company’s five-speed Auto Gear Shift transmission.
Auto Gear Shift, commonly referred to as an Automated Manual Transmission or AMT, automates clutch and gear-shift operations while retaining the option for drivers to select gears manually. There is no clutch pedal — a small but increasingly appreciated luxury in bumper-to-bumper city traffic.
Introducing the new range, Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “We at Maruti Suzuki are always listening to our customers. With modern Indian cities experiencing rapid growth, new-age customers are looking for the convenience of an automatic car without compromising on fuel-efficiency and performance in traffic conditions. Under the Auto Green Mission, our new range of automatic S-CNG models are perfectly suited for today’s aspirational customers who seek the best of both worlds. The Swift, Dzire and Baleno are some of the country’s bestselling cars, the introduction of the automatic S-CNG models is sure to delight customers and make these incredible cars win even more hearts.”
Maruti Suzuki said demand for its CNG vehicles has continued to grow across its portfolio. According to the company, sales of S-CNG vehicles increased 58% during the first quarter of this year compared with the corresponding quarter a year earlier.
The company also said it recorded its highest-ever monthly S-CNG sales in July, at 83,000 units.
Banerjee added, “We have been receiving unprecedented demand for our S-CNG range of vehicles as evolving, environmentally conscious customer expectations are driving acceptance for eco-friendly options across all segments. During the first quarter of this year, we experienced a 58% increase in sales over the same quarter last year for our S-CNG vehicles. In July, we recorded the highest-ever S-CNG vehicle sales in a month at 83,000 units. The introduction of the new automatic S-CNG range of cars is sure to contribute to the growing share of clean and green cars in India.”
How the Automatic S-CNG System Works
The Swift, Dzire and Baleno S-CNG use an Intelligent Injection System designed to regulate the air-fuel ratio for performance and fuel efficiency.
Maruti Suzuki says its factory-fitted S-CNG architecture uses stainless steel pipes and joints aimed at reducing the risk of corrosion and leakage. Integrated wiring harnesses are designed to help prevent short circuits, while a microswitch prevents the engine from being started while CNG is being filled.
The system also incorporates Idle Start Stop technology, which switches off the engine during periods of idling and restarts it automatically when required. The feature is intended to reduce fuel consumption in heavy traffic.
AMT Brings Two-Pedal Convenience
Maruti Suzuki’s Auto Gear Shift technology uses an intelligent actuating unit to automate clutch and gear-shift functions.
Unlike a conventional torque-converter automatic or continuously variable transmission, an AMT is fundamentally based on a manual gearbox but removes the need for the driver to operate the clutch. Drivers can therefore use the car in fully automatic mode or manually select gears when required.
The combination is aimed primarily at urban buyers seeking lower running costs associated with CNG while retaining the convenience of a two-pedal transmission.
By extending automatic transmission availability to three of its mainstream CNG models, Maruti Suzuki is broadening the appeal of factory-fitted CNG beyond buyers focused solely on fuel economy. The move also reflects a wider shift in India’s passenger-vehicle market, where convenience, running costs and alternative fuels are increasingly being asked to coexist in the same car.
| Maruti Suzuki Swift (Ex-showroom Starting Price in Indian Rupees) | 7 92 400 |
| Maruti Suzuki Dzire (Ex-showroom Starting Price in Indian Rupees) | 8 53 100 |
| Maruti Suzuki Baleno (Ex-showroom Starting Price in Indian Rupees) | 8 32 400 |
