Hyundai Motor India will soon introduce the iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) technology on the Venue subcompact SUV model lineup. The new 2-padal clutch-less manual transmission will be offered with the 120bhp, 1.0L T-GDi petrol engine paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox. With this move, the Hyundai Venue will become India’s first connected SUV to get the iMT technology.
The Venue’s upcoming rival – Kia Sonet was believed to be India’s first car to feature the clutch-less manual gearbox (iMT). Taking lead from Kia, the South Korean carmaker will introduce it on Venue in July, 2020. Hyundai says that it’s an “Industry First Innovation” offering convenience of 2-pedal clutch-less technology and “fun-to-drive elements” of a manual gearbox. It provides better control via manual gear shifting without a clutch operation.
The iMT system has an ‘intention sensor’ that works with the gear lever and notifies a transmission control unit (TCU) when the driver changes gears. The TCU unit transmits signals to a hydraulic actuator to employ and lay off the clutch plate while gear shifting. The carmaker claims that its 2-pedal clutchless manual gearbox will ensure convenience “without compromising on fuel efficiency and performance”. Read: 40,000 Bookings For New Hyundai Creta; Diesel Variant High In Demand
At present, Hyundai Venue comes with three BS6-compliant engines – a 1.5L turbo diesel, 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.0L turbo petrol. A 6-speed manual gearbox is offered on the 1.5L diesel and 1.0L turbo petrol variants. The 1.2L petrol model comes with a 5-speed gearbox, while a 7-speed DCT automatic unit is exclusively offered on the turbo-petrol variant.
In terms of features, the Venue’s fully-loaded trim gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Hyundai’s BlueLink connectivity technology, automatic climate control, wireless charging and diamond cut alloy wheels. The Alternator Management System (AMS) is offered on the entry-level E and mid-level S trims. Along with the BS6 update, the carmaker introduced tyre pressure monitoring system (TMPS) on the SX variant and an additional 12V power outlet on the SX+ (AT) and SX (O) variants. Read – New Hyundai Santa Fe Technical Details Out
Commenting on the introduction of the iMT technology in the Hyundai Venue, SS Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “Hyundai has been driving the adoption of new and innovative technologies at scale. With our ‘Future Ready’ business strategy, we have been continuously striving for customer delight with Human-centric technologies that present our innate understanding of what our customers’ desire. iMT is one such technology that accounts for the pleasure of driving and also the convenience needed to ease the hectic burden of daily commutes.
