Imagine a manual transmission but without the clutch pedal. You might say such a thing already exists in India, and it is called an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). Correct! However, AMTs shift gears automatically. That said, some versions do provide the flexibility of manual sequential shifting. What if a car has a two-pedal setup, but you still shift gears manually and that too with a conventional H-shaped mechanism? That’s what Hyundai has introduced in India as an iMT – intelligent Manual Transmission. Subcompact SUV Venue becomes the first model to get it.

Are you still confused about how such a setup would work? See if this slightly nerdy description helps move things along in your head. The Transmission Gear Shift (TGS) lever works in tandem with a few additional mechanical and electronic gizmos. They are – Intention Sensor (IS), Hydraulic Actuator (HA) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU). All four, along with the clutch tube and a concentric slave cylinder, take the responsibility to engage and disengage the clutch after slotting in the desired gear.

That was simple, wasn’t it! Um…moving on! It is, frankly, difficult to comprehend such a system by reading a description. Experiencing it is, probably, the only way to understand how it works. Another question that arises is why to take such pain when you already have other automatic transmission technologies? There’s CVT, Torque Converter and, of course, the dual-clutch (DCT) setup. The answer is simple – cost-saving. Compared to a DCT, an iMT would cost considerably less, taking the asking price of the vehicle down. Also, Hyundai claims the new geeky stuff doesn’t hamper fuel efficiency and performance.

The new technology, which comes mated to the 6-speed transmission, will be available with only the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. Hyundai hasn’t released the variants or prices yet. Expect that to happen later this month. Some might wonder, will this new technology eventually find space in Verna’s portfolio? Well, that is definitely on the cards. What’s more, the upcoming Kia Sonet will also get it.