Maruti plans to launch Wagon-R automatic this Diwali

 
You have to give credit to Maruti Suzuki for creating awareness and making automatic gearbox more acceptable in India’s affordable compact car segment, by introducing Maruti Alto and Maruti Celerio with automatic manual transmission (AMT).
 
Earlier, spy images of Maruti Wagon R Stingray had immerged carrying the ‘AT’ badge on the bootlid; sparking off rumours about the automatic version. Sources close to the company has confirmed that the next Maruti model to come with an AMT unit will be the Maruti Wagon R and the Wagon R Stingray, which the company is planning to introduce in the next couple of months and well in time for the festive season.

Just like the Maruti Celerio, the Wagon R “EZ Drive” will continue to be powered by a 998cc K10B petrol motor producing 68PS of peak power, and would come equipped with a Magneti Marelli sourced 5-speed automatic manual transmission. Though more details on the AMT car is yet to be revealed, the company could claim a mileage of around 23kmpl.
 
The new Maruti Wagon R EZ Drive with AMT is said to be offered in LXi and VXi variants initially. The price for the new Wagon R AT (with automatic manual transmission) will be about Rs 50,000 more than the manual gearbox version, and is expected to cost between Rs 4.5 lakh and 5 lakh.