Maruti Suzuki Swift Could Get 6-Speed Gearbox Soon

The new variant, codenamed MF30, would substantially boost the overall driving performance of the auto, moneycontrol.com reported.

Since Maruti is projecting massive volumes for the new 6-speed manual gearbox, codenamed MF30, expect a wide range of cars and SUVs to receive the new transmission.

According to sources cited by MoneyControl in its report, Maruti is looking to shore up the use of 6-speed transmissions in a gradual way.

Maruti Suzuki has developed a brand new 6-speed manual gearbox that it will soon start offering on its hot-selling cars in India. The new gearbox is expected to increase fuel efficiency by allowing for a taller 6th gear.

For instance, cruising speed of 80-100km/hour on the highway can be done in the sixth gear rather than in the fifth gear. The introduction of the 6-speed manual in the Maruti Suzuki range could also herald an introduction of the 6-speed AMT in the near future as essentially, both the manual and AMT versions use the same gearbox with an AMT module fitted. The auto giant had employed a six-speed gearbox for the first time in its first generation S-Cross, a premium hatchback crossover that met with limited success. The cabin noise is also reduced with six-speed gearbox, as compared to a five-speed one.

However, Maruti Suzuki phased out the 6-speed gearbox and the 1.6-litre engine with the subsequent launch of the second-gen facelifted update of the S-Cross which went back to a 5-speed manual and a 1.3-diesel engine. And now, the new S-Cross comes with a 1.3-litre diesel engine, paired with a five-speed gearbox. The engines are now offered in five-speed manual transmission and five-speed Auto Gear Shift (AGS) transmission in both petrol and diesel trims.

We think the idea of a six-speed manual is not bad, considering major rivals Hyundai, Tata employing 6-speed manual transmissions in their vehicle range. Maruti Suzuki, however, has not commented officially about the introduction of new transmission to its cars yet. Hyundai has offered 6-speed manual gearboxes even on cheaper cars such as the i20 (old as well as the Elite model), the Verna and the Creta.

Tata Motors also offers the premium SUV Hexa and mid-size SUV Safari with a six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Renault sells three cars with six-speed gearboxes, namely - Duster, Captur and Lodgy.