The need for common rail AUTOMATIC hatches

petroguzzler · 21st July 2010, 08:33

City B2B driving in the rush hours is a real headache. Automatics offer a good remedy. Among automatic hatches, there are only petrol powered ones like i10, i20 etc. Why don't we have common rail auto diesel hatches? Like say an i20 CRDI auto, Punto multijet auto or even an Indica vista Quadrajet Auto. These cars are generally fuel efficient and an auto box won't play much of spoilsport and can be ideal urban commuters. C'mon its time for manufacturers to offer them.

AirWind · 21st July 2010, 09:42

Good combo of convenience and diesel economy... the only deal killer will be the initial cost - imagine a i20 1.4 Petrol AT costing 9.1 lakhs OTR, how much would a diesel cost? May be TATA can break this...

fiat_tarun · 21st July 2010, 10:38

I am damn sure there is a big enough market for automatic hatchbacks in our cities. Even in the petrol space, we have only Hyundai offering automatics and now maruti with the A* Auto, which i hear is ridiculously expensive. It will happen eventually, but when is the BIG question. My hopes are on Tata to bring competition in the auto market.

I hope the Nano gets an auto box. It would be the perfect city car, especially for the lady at home. If the Nano crdi diesel gets it, even better.

But... if only wishes came true...

pradkumar · 21st July 2010, 10:46

Tata already goes to AVL for sourcing some engine technologies. They can easily source CVT and conventional automatic technology from them. I guess it is the lack of volumes and the high tech transfer costs that keeps them away.

Pradeep

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

My hopes are on Tata to bring competition in the auto market.

I hope the Nano gets an auto box. It would be the perfect city car, especially for the lady at home. If the Nano crdi diesel gets it, even better.

But... if only wishes came true...

srishiva · 21st July 2010, 10:53

Usually its about 1000 or 1500 dollars more to have automatics. That would mean about 1.5 lakhs more than a petrol manual for a diesel automatic. The manufacturers themselves might be worried about the costs. This increase in price as a percentage is huge in cheap hatchbacks.

ghodlur · 21st July 2010, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirWind

Good combo of convenience and diesel economy... the only deal killer will be the initial cost - imagine a i20 1.4 Petrol AT costing 9.1 lakhs OTR, how much would a diesel cost? May be TATA can break this...

How about Tata introducing NANO automatic

blackasta · 21st July 2010, 13:58

We sure need A/T diesel hatchbacks around 5-6 lakhs. The cheapest diesel AT car on offer right now is the verna which costs almost 10lakhs OTR (if I am not mistaken)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

I am damn sure there is a big enough market for automatic hatchbacks in our cities. Even in the petrol space, we have only Hyundai offering automatics and now maruti with the A* Auto, which i hear is ridiculously expensive. It will happen eventually, but when is the BIG question. My hopes are on Tata to bring competition in the auto market.

I hope the Nano gets an auto box. It would be the perfect city car, especially for the lady at home. If the Nano crdi diesel gets it, even better.

But... if only wishes came true...

Has this been launched?

Equus · 21st July 2010, 14:06

I guess most manufacturers feel this doenst have mass appeal as yet. I did hear about Maruti's plans of an auto A-Star. Not sure what happened.
I can bet it will take a Maruti to get this going. Imagine what a swift petrol auto at about 75K more would do!

Ardy · 21st July 2010, 14:12

There does seem to be a demand for a diesel auto hatchback, but don't know why the automakers are not taking a note of it. And even if the demand is not huge, I am sure automakers can deliver based on order. I for one would definitely be interested in a hatchback with auto tranny.

If Hyundai can provide Verna CRDi with AT, why can it not provide i20 CRDi with one? I am sure it can. If not a full fledged line, I guess automakers should look at order to make.

I do think i20, Swift VDi with auto boxes would do quite well.

Cheers,

sgiitk · 21st July 2010, 16:29

Considering the situation five years ago, now we seem to be accepting ATs. When I bought my Santro AT there were less that half a dozen in Kanpur. Now AT i10's are selling well.

I am disappointed that Honda have dropped plans for the 1.5 AT Jazz.

FourWheelDrift · 21st July 2010, 21:21

It's not a hatch, but ... what % of Scorpio sale is the mHawk with automatic doing ?

fuhrer · 21st July 2010, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

I am damn sure there is a big enough market for automatic hatchbacks in our cities. Even in the petrol space, we have only Hyundai offering automatics and now maruti with the A* Auto, which i hear is ridiculously expensive. It will happen eventually, but when is the BIG question. My hopes are on Tata to bring competition in the auto market.

I hope the Nano gets an auto box. It would be the perfect city car, especially for the lady at home. If the Nano crdi diesel gets it, even better.

But... if only wishes came true...

Nano Crdi ? possibility is nano with a tata ace engine

As Mr.SGiitk said, yes sir if you asked me five years back i would have said automatics spoils the fun of driving, but now if there is a hatchback diesel between 5-6L i would prefer one as well.

I heard there is a bangalore after market fitment of auto clutch for any car for about Rs.35000 i heard about it a year ago but dont have details of it

rajushank84 · 21st July 2010, 23:02

I think Swift or Ritz diesel with AT would be awesome.

kadanaJ · 22nd July 2010, 00:18

It would be an excellent idea, but I sense these cars would be very expensive.
Diesel engines alone command an almost 80,000 premium over their petrol counterparts, and an autobox can be expected to add another 60,000 to that. In the end, 1,50,000 more for the same car with all of the same other features.
It doesn't make sense from an economic standpoint if you calculate the savings of petrol over diesel, and if convenience is the only criteria, just go for the petrol auto.
No good unless priced better.

fuhrer · 22nd July 2010, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadanaJ

It would be an excellent idea, but I sense these cars would be very expensive.
Diesel engines alone command an almost 80,000 premium over their petrol counterparts, and an autobox can be expected to add another 60,000 to that. In the end, 1,50,000 more for the same car with all of the same other features.
It doesn't make sense from an economic standpoint if you calculate the savings of petrol over diesel, and if convenience is the only criteria, just go for the petrol auto.
No good unless priced better.

With ever raising petrol prices and inconsistent fuel efficiency of the petrol cars one will be force to go for a over priced diesel if they have high city travelling and what makes it even more unaffordable is just like ABS, AT will provided as an option on the fully loaded variant. For instance i20 Era Crdi cost Rs.5.85L(ex) and the asta costs Rs.7.01L(ex) add 60,000-75,000 to it and the ORT will go upward of 9L or atleast close to it. sounds insane.

its better to get a cheaper diesel hatchback like the swift or figo and hire a chauffeur and pay him for three to four years with the money you save on the car purchase

21st July 2010, 08:33	#1
petroguzzler BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madras Posts: 461 Thanked: 263 Times	The need for common rail AUTOMATIC hatches City B2B driving in the rush hours is a real headache. Automatics offer a good remedy. Among automatic hatches, there are only petrol powered ones like i10, i20 etc. Why don't we have common rail auto diesel hatches? Like say an i20 CRDI auto, Punto multijet auto or even an Indica vista Quadrajet Auto. These cars are generally fuel efficient and an auto box won't play much of spoilsport and can be ideal urban commuters. C'mon its time for manufacturers to offer them.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 09:42	#2
AirWind BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 998 Thanked: 405 Times View My Garage	Good combo of convenience and diesel economy... the only deal killer will be the initial cost - imagine a i20 1.4 Petrol AT costing 9.1 lakhs OTR, how much would a diesel cost? May be TATA can break this...
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 10:38	#3
fiat_tarun Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pune / Mysore Posts: 1,938 Thanked: 3,799 Times View My Garage	I am damn sure there is a big enough market for automatic hatchbacks in our cities. Even in the petrol space, we have only Hyundai offering automatics and now maruti with the A* Auto, which i hear is ridiculously expensive. It will happen eventually, but when is the BIG question. My hopes are on Tata to bring competition in the auto market. I hope the Nano gets an auto box. It would be the perfect city car, especially for the lady at home. If the Nano crdi diesel gets it, even better. But... if only wishes came true...
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 10:53	#5
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	Usually its about 1000 or 1500 dollars more to have automatics. That would mean about 1.5 lakhs more than a petrol manual for a diesel automatic. The manufacturers themselves might be worried about the costs. This increase in price as a percentage is huge in cheap hatchbacks.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 14:06	#8
Equus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 424 Times	I guess most manufacturers feel this doenst have mass appeal as yet. I did hear about Maruti's plans of an auto A-Star. Not sure what happened. I can bet it will take a Maruti to get this going. Imagine what a swift petrol auto at about 75K more would do!
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 14:12	#9
Ardy BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 614 Thanked: 87 Times View My Garage	There does seem to be a demand for a diesel auto hatchback, but don't know why the automakers are not taking a note of it. And even if the demand is not huge, I am sure automakers can deliver based on order. I for one would definitely be interested in a hatchback with auto tranny. If Hyundai can provide Verna CRDi with AT, why can it not provide i20 CRDi with one? I am sure it can. If not a full fledged line, I guess automakers should look at order to make. I do think i20, Swift VDi with auto boxes would do quite well. Cheers, Last edited by Ardy : 21st July 2010 at 14:14.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 16:29	#10
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,796 Times	Considering the situation five years ago, now we seem to be accepting ATs. When I bought my Santro AT there were less that half a dozen in Kanpur. Now AT i10's are selling well. I am disappointed that Honda have dropped plans for the 1.5 AT Jazz.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 21:21	#11
FourWheelDrift BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai/PNW Posts: 630 Thanked: 558 Times	It's not a hatch, but ... what % of Scorpio sale is the mHawk with automatic doing ?
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 23:02	#13
rajushank84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,120 Thanked: 1,104 Times View My Garage	I think Swift or Ritz diesel with AT would be awesome.
	() Thanks

22nd July 2010, 00:18	#14
kadanaJ BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mumbai Posts: 592 Thanked: 969 Times	It would be an excellent idea, but I sense these cars would be very expensive. Diesel engines alone command an almost 80,000 premium over their petrol counterparts, and an autobox can be expected to add another 60,000 to that. In the end, 1,50,000 more for the same car with all of the same other features. It doesn't make sense from an economic standpoint if you calculate the savings of petrol over diesel, and if convenience is the only criteria, just go for the petrol auto. No good unless priced better.
	() Thanks