Hyundai Venue iMT - First-ever Video Review

by Vivaan Khatri | 08/08/2020
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Hyundai Venue is the first on the segment to offer a clutchless manual gearbox. The iMT will be offered with the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine along with the 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT.

The Hyundai Venue was introduced last year as the company’s first vehicle in the sub-four-meter SUV segment. Earlier, the South Korean car manufacturer successfully garnered a massive success with the Hyundai Creta in the compact SUV segment and with the Hyundai Venue, the company went on to receive an equivalent recognition in the sub-4-metre SUV segment. As expected, the Hyundai Venue was an instant hit in its class.

Hyundai Venue iMT Review | 2020 Hyundai Venue iMT Review Indian Exclusive | Cheaper Than AMT

During its peak time, the car even beat the segment-leading Maruti Vitara Brezza to become the best-selling vehicle in the sub-4-meter space. However, in the last two months, Maruti has climbed back to the number one position, not to mention that Kia will also jump into the bandwagon with the new Kia Sonet. The launch of the Kia Sonet will definitely heat up the competition in the sub-four-meter SUV segment. Given this situation, Hyundai has also prepared a special update to strengthen its appeal. This time, Hyundai Venue will offer a new choice of transmission, an iMT. Hyundai Venue is also the first car in the segment to offer this type of transmission.

In a recent video updated by PITSTOP, we can have a first-hand account of a user of this new transmission option of the Hyundai Venue. Throughout the video, the host gives you an explanation of how the transmission works and reviews the real-life performance of the new transmission. If you are new to the concept of a clutchless manual gearbox, this video will illustrate how to drive a vehicle of this type.

Hyundai Venue iMT: First Drive Review

The new Hyundai Venue iMT bears no cosmetic updates from the regular version. It also comes with the same features available on the normal model. The new transmission of Hyundai Venue will be powered by the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. According to the first-drive review, the iMT gearbox offers a very seamless driving experience. It is noted that the gear shifting of the Hyundai iMT is far more effortless and smoother than an AMT unit. Similar to the manual gearbox, the iMT would require the driver to let go off the throttle before changing the gear. Interestingly, even when the car driver engages in the wrong gear, the car will not suddenly stall. Instead, the car will slow down until it switches to the right gear. The reviewer also notices the iMT does not allow quick shifts like in a conventional manual gearbox.

Hyundai Venue 1.0 DCT Test Drive Review | Hindi

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What is iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission)?

From the perspective of a driver, the iMT system is similar to the automatic transmission as both of them do not feature a clutch pedal. Thanks to the reduction of the clutch pedal, the driver only has to work with the two pedals. However, iMT, at its core, is still a manual transmission. The idea of combining the convenience of a clutchless drive to a manual setting seems to be similar to the Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). But in reality, they are two different mechanisms.

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Basically, the iMT system still features a actuated clutch. The difference is that the clutch will be operated internally instead of being presented externally. The driver still uses the same manual gear shifting but without using the clutch. Gear shifting is still operated in the traditional H pattern, which retains the excitement of driving a manual car. On the other hands, the operation will be much easier without involvement of a clutch pedal. Moreover, it also allows the car to move more smoothly through the bumper-to-bumper traffic. According to SS Kim, MD and CEO of Hyundai Motor India, this new option of powertrain will offer “the pressure of driving and also the convenience needed to ease the hectic burden of daily commutes.”

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Hyundai Venue’s iMT will be available on the SX and SX (O) variants. The SX and SX (O) with iMT are priced at Rs 10 lakh and Rs 11 lakh, which are Rs 21,000 and Rs. 24,000 higher than the respective variants with a regular manual gearbox. However, if compared to automatic variants, the iMT models are still more affordable.

Hyundai Venue is currently available with three engine options, 1.0-litre turbo petrol, a 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. For the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol, apart from the 6-speed iMT options, there are other two gearbox choices, a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 7 dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The 83 PS 1.2-litre petrol engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox while the 100 PS 1.5-litre diesel engine is offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

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