Soon after launching a new top-end Alpha petrol variant of the Baleno premium hatchback with an automatic transmission, Japanese automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki has recently introduced the Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) or Auto Gear Shift (AGS) option in the high-end Alpha trim of its urban compact hatchback, Ignis. The Maruti Suzuki Ignis with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) option was previously available only in middle-spec Delta and Zeta trims. With the new Alpha AMT variant, the urban compact hatchback is now available in three automatic trims: Alpha AMT, Delta AMT, and Zeta AMT. The Maruti Suzuki Ignis Alpha AMT variant is now available in both petrol and diesel engine options. As for pricing, the Ignis Alpha AMT with petrol engine variant has been launched in India with a price tag of Rs. 7.01 lakh, while the Ignis Alpha AMT with diesel engine variant has been priced at Rs. 8.08 lakh (all prices are mentioned Ex-showroom, Delhi).
The Maruti Suzuki Ignis urban compact hatchback was made its debut in the Indian market in January 2017 and since then the compact hatchback is running successfully. The company claims that it has sold over 27,362 units of the Ignis in the country till the date, hitting close to 4500 units a month on an average. The Ignis Alpha AGS is the latest model in the current portfolio to have a two-pedal technology that makes driving easier in urban conditions.
Introducing Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) or Auto Gear Shift (AGS) on IGNIS Alpha trim, Mr. R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) said, “Automatic Gear Shift (AGS) on the IGNIS, so far offered in the Delta and Zeta trims, has been widely appreciated by customers and accounts for 27 per cent of IGNIS sales. We are now offering AGS in the top trim as well – IGNIS Alpha. We expect this to strengthen brand IGNIS and enhance the popularity of AGS amongst millennials.”
Talking about its mechanical department, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis comes in two engine variants —one petrol variant and one diesel variant. The petrol variant Ignis is powered by a 1.2-litre VVT petrol engine that churns out 81.8 bhp of peak power at 6,000 rpm against the peak torque of 112 Nm at 4,200 rpm. On the other hand, the diesel variant Ignis is powered by a 1.3-litre DDiS turbo-diesel engine that generates 74 bhp of peak power at 4,000 rpm against the peak torque of 190 Nm at 2,000 rpm. With the addition of the AMT in the Alpha trim, all variants (except the Sigma variant) are offered with both the 5-speed manual and automatic transmission options. The Maruti Ignis petrol AMT has an ARAI certified mileage of 20.89 km/l and the Ignis diesel AMT has a fuel consumption of 26.80 km/l.
The Maruti Suzuki Ignis Alpha variant comes equipped with sharper LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lamps), reverse parking camera, 7-inch SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, height adjustable driver seat and puddle lamp. Dimensionally, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis measures 3,700 mm in length, 1,690 mm in width, 1,595 mm in height, 2,435 mm wheelbase and offers a ground clearance of 180 mm.
In terms of safety, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis premium compact hatchback offers various safety features including ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), dual front Airbags as standard, child safety lock, power door lock, pedestrian protection system, ISOFIX Anchorage — a child seat restraint system as standard, indicators on ORVM and much more.
In the Indian market, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis will compete against the likes of Hyundai Grand i10, Tata Bolt and the Honda Brio.
