Kia Offers 6iMT Drive In Diesel Variants Of Seltos, Sonet & Carens
After creating a segment-winning proposition with the launch of Intelligent Transmission technology (iMT) in petrol versions of the Sonet and the Seltos in 2020 and 2021, Kia is now empowering all its diesel models with iMT. All manual transmission diesel versions of Kia will now be upgraded to 6iMT versions which will now come as a standard transmission in its refreshed RDE-compliant vehicle 2023 editions of the Seltos, the Sonet, and the Carens to be available from 01 April 2023. This move will transform the diesel driving experience which is considered highly inconvenient due to heavy clutch usage and India’s traffic and road conditions.
The iMT technology is superior to a manual transmission and offers a range of benefits such as eliminating clutch fatigue and engine stalling in higher gears at low speeds. Additionally, it provides better fuel efficiency as the clutch operation is controlled by actuators and Transmission Control Unit (TCU). Kia's iMT technology has won over customers, with one out of every five Seltos and one out of every three Sonet sold in 2022 being iMT editions.
“We are undisputed market leaders in iMT since its launch with the petrol edition in the Sonet in 2020 and in the Seltos in 2021 and feel that it’s the right time to revolutionise diesel drive experiences with the breakthrough technology. Our deep research and customer feedback showcase how India loves a clutch-free thrilling driving experience that allows them to navigate the growing traffic on the roads without restricting their long commutes to work or leisurely vacations. With iMT, Kia customers will now be able to enjoy the comfort of an automatic with the drivability of a manual transmission," said Tae-Jin Park, MD & CEO, Kia India.
Clutch has been a predominant driving concern with long-distance travel and traffic conditions. Recognising this gap, Kia first launched the iMT concept at Auto Expo in 2020 which was later imbibed in its compact SUV, the Sonet in 2020, and the Seltos later contributing to their sales in double digits in FY 2022. Recently, Kia has also introduced iMT in petrol versions of the Carens to promote it as the primary transmission option.
The price of the diesel variants of Sonet, Seltos, and Carens with the iMT technology starts from Rs. 9.95 lakhs, Rs. 12.39 lakhs, and Rs. 12.65 lakhs, respectively.
