MATCH MADE IN Heaven

We, in India, are no strangers to CNG or automatic transmissions, but, for the first time ever, we get to experience both in the same car.

- DHRUV PALIWAL 

In metro cities, if one were to opt for the cost-effectiveness of CNG cars, one would have to relinquish the convenience of automatic cars, for CNG cars are not offered with automatic transmissions. Such has been the case – that is, until now. Shattering the limits of this choice between the two, Tata Motors has introduced not one but two CNG cars equipped with an automatic transmission – the Tiago and Tigor. We spent half a day with the latter to find out if it truly lives up to the hype.

STEP ON IT

As soon as I got the keys to the Tigor iCNG AMT, I wasted little time getting behind its wheel. Now, on its own, not much changed in the Tigor, but more on that later. The transmission on offer here is a 5-speed AMT (automated-manual transmission), which means that essentially, it is the same as the 5-speed manual on offer, but in the former, gear shifting and clutch action are taken care of by actuators. Step on the pedal, and the Tigor moves forward with ease. All you need is light throttle inputs to get around residential areas, and if you tread lightly, the gear shifts are remarkably smooth and quite intuitive. When pushed, the Tigor iCNG responds with a linear power curve, propelling you towards the red line, but the AMT takes a bit of time while shifting here, accompanied by the characteristic head nod that is associated with such transmissions in general.