Automatic Transmission was something unknown to Indian cars before the 1990s. In recent times there have been many global brands offering automatic transmission units in basic cars in India. One of the primary reasons for this may be increase in road traffic across metropolitans and other cities which make it tedious to drive geared cars in India. Automatic transmission units either give complete relief or partial relief from the act of pushing the gear lever around. There are various types of transmission assembly which work using different principles and behave differently to aid various driving styles. Some of the hatchbacks currently available in Indian market which have automatic transmission systems are listed below.
Hyundai i10
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| Hyundai i10 Automatic |
Hyundai i10 the cousin of Santro came to India in 2007 as a basic hatchback. The model is doing as well as Hyundai Santro, serving a segment higher with more options. The car which is currently available in market with the 1.2L Kappa engine has a 4 gear automatic transmission system which allows the driver to pick between D, 2 and L modes. In D mode the gears change automatically from 1 to 4. In 2 mode the gear shifting is limited to 1stand 2nd gears which would be useful for driving on steep roads and while parking in garage. Other positions on the lever have parking (which lets the gear to get locked when car is parked), neutral and reverse options. The engine makes use of Variable Timing Valve Train technology to deliver higher efficiency and smooth power delivery to wheels through automatic transmission unit.
Maruti Suzuki A Star
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| Maruti A Star Automatic |
Maruti Suzuki A Star, a car known for its fuel efficiency across the world is available in 4 speed automatic transmission unit. The car uses a similar gear lever shift mechanism as in Hyundai i10 where the gear lever lets the driver pick between gear limits. The unit is coupled to 1.0L K series engine which delivers 68 hp of power. The combination of a smaller engine and an automatic transmission unit means high fuel economy and a comfortable drive.
Honda Brio
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| Honda Brio automatic |
Honda Brio, the compact hatchback from Japanese auto major got its automatic transmission on Indian shores in 2012. A five speed gear box which has a torque converter is used in the car. With more number of gears the car gives one extra mode for driving. The D mode changes gear to the fullest extent starting from 1. The D3 mode keeps the gear limit within 3 which would be useful in busy roads. All other modes remain the same like in Hyundai i10 and Maruti A Star.
Mahindra Reva i
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| Reva i Automatic |
The electric powered car from Bangalore based company has received both positive and negative responses globally. The car uses a completely automatic transmission system which does not have a gear lever too. The car uses lead acid batteries to power its wheels and AC. The eco friendly car drives at a maximum speed of 80 km/hr.
Volkswagen Beetle
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| Volkswagen beetle Automatic |
One of the cars that have been in production lines for more than 60 years in continuous is still fancied by people from many parts of the world. The Volkswagen Beetle that came back to Indian grounds few years ago has a six speed tiptronic transmission system where the driver can intervene automatic transmission process and change gears as per his mood and road needs. The transmission system works automatically if there is no shift from the driver. This system is mated to a 2.0L 114 bhp engine which generates a torque of 172 Nm. Driving this car is a real pleasure in the presence of smoothly shifting gears.
With increase in competition among automobile brands more and more Indian cars could get automatic transmission system since it is a convenience feature. Many saturated markets like USA have these systems and other technological features in most of their models. Cars in India are slowly growing to these levels where companies are expected to provide more features within the stated price tag.
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