Renault South Africa has expanded its local Kwid range with the introduction of a new automated manual variant in Dynamique trim.
Priced at R146 900 (that makes it R10 000 more than the five-speed manual derivative), the Kwid AMT is fitted with a five-speed automated manual gearbox (similar to the unit used in the Suzuki Celerio 1,0 GL) rather than a conventional torque converter or continuously variable transmission. It launches as the cheapest automatic vehicle in South Africa, undercutting the Celerio by some R20 000.
Mated to the same naturally aspirated 1,0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (with 50 kW and 91 N.m) as the manual derivatives, the Kwid AMT features a dash-mounted dial (rather than a gear-lever) with three modes: reverse, neutral and drive.
Renault says “an advanced control unit automatically optimises gear shifting in accordance with driving conditions for smooth and regular acceleration”.
The Kwid AMT is equipped with a driver’s airbag, but does without ABS (an issue we highlighted in our road test of the manual model). A five-year/150 000 km warranty is included. In addition, the Dynamique trim level comes with a touchscreen-based infotainment system with built-in navigation.
