Tata Nexon AMT coming to the Auto Expo as Ford EcoSport challenger

Tata Motors will show automatic variants of the Nexon sub-4 meter compact SUV at the 2018 Auto Expo. It remains to be seen if the prices of these new variants will be revealed or if they’ll be launched later in the year. The Nexon will be the first sub-4 meter SUV in India that will be offered with petrol and diesel automatic options.

Both engines will get the automated manual transmission module mounted on top of the 6 speed manual gearboxes. In terms of pricing, the Nexon AMTs are expected to be priced about Rs. 50,000 more than equivalent manual variants. This is because AMTs are not as expensive as conventional automatic gearboxes.

Even mileage of the Nexon Petrol AMT and Diesel AMT will is expected to be similar to the manual transmission equipped variants. The engines will be unchanged. The petrol is a 1.2 liter-4 cylinder unit with a turbocharger, and this engine puts out 108 Bhp and 170 Nm.

The diesel is also a 4 cylinder unit but displacing 1.5 liters. The turbocharged diesel makes 108 Bhp and 260 Nm, making the Nexon the most powerful vehicle in its class. In terms of competition, the Nexon AMT Petrol will challenge the Ford EcoSport AT. But the diesel AMT version of the Nexon has no competition presently. It’s the only diesel automatic in the class.

The Nexon AMT is expected to increase volumes of this compact SUV as a lot of buyers now look to buy automatic cars due to the extra convenience they offer. AMTs are very popular on budget cars as they’re inexpensive and fuel efficient. They are not as responsive as conventional automatic gearboxes though but this is a small price to pay for the lower cost and other benefits. Most buyers won’t mind it at all. Due to the new variants, the Nexon may comprehensively beat the EcoSport and become a strong second best-selling sub-4 meter compact SUV, behind the Maruti Vitara Brezza.

Via ACI