Renault Kwid goes clutch-free with new AMT

In keeping with this focus on differentiation, the Kwid has now been launched with an AMT (automated manual transmission) option. Unlike the AMTs of competing cars in the market, the Kwid gets a rotary knob for drive selection compared to the short, gear selection stick which is the norm in the others. This is a novelty that is sure to click with the segment of buyers that the Kwid is focused on.


The Kwid AMT’s fundamental premise is the same — that more and more of the first time car buyers who are predominantly driving in crowded city conditions will choose automated transmissions for their convenience. But, these are also buyers who are extremely sensitive to the price differential of the car and cost of ownership. So, an AMT will be ideal since the incremental price will be lower than that of a conventional torque converter auto gearbox. And importantly, since an AMT is only the addition of a few sensors and hydraulic actuators on top of the manual gearbox, the differential in fuel efficiency is negligible or sometimes even better, as is the case with the Kwid AMT.

Both externally and inside the cabin, the new Kwid AMT is identical to the recently introduced Kwid 1.0 with the one-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine. The new AMT variant will be offered only in the top-trim level of RXT (O), which means it will include the driver’s airbag as part of the package. 

The only differentiator between the AMT and the regular manual transmission Kwid 1.0 is the Easy-R chrome badge at the bottom right of the hatch door. The rest of the design elements are identical, including the checkered flag decal on the side. The Kwid’s key differentiator is its SUV body style and the sense of width and solidity that comes along with it. Inside the cabin too the rest of the elements are all identical except for the gear shift stick, which is absent in the AMT. 

Instead of the usual AMT selection stick, the Kwid gets a chunky rotary dial with a chrome outer ring for mode selection. The dial (Renault calls it Shift Control AMT) is located on the centre stack and right below the infotainment system’s touch screen. You get a multi-purpose cup-holder / storage slot in place of the usual gear stick in the centre console.