Maruti confirms Baleno for India

    Maruti Baleno will be sold via Nexa showrooms; will come with a petrol CVT automatic option and Apple CarPlay.

    Published On Sep 15, 2015 05:00:00 PM

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    The next big launch from Maruti, which is the new Baleno hatchback, is likely to hit Indian showrooms just in time for the festive season, with a launch likely on October 26. The new Baleno is currently being showcased at the ongoing Frankfurt motor show and the India-specific car is said to be not very different from this model. The Maruti Baleno is a global model and will sit above the popular Swift hatchback. Its styling is also similar to the current-gen Suzuki offerings sold globally. It sits on an all-new platform that will also underpin the new Maruti YBA compact SUV and the next-generation Swift. 

    Maruti's Baleno measures 3,995mm in length, 1,745mm in width and is 1,470mm high, improving on the Swift's length and width of 3,850mm and 1,695mm respectively. Boot space too is larger at 355 litres.

    Facing the Baleno, you see that the headlamps are placed at extreme corners, the grille is a fresh new take on the traditional Suzuki one, now taking on a smart V shape. The front bumper is conservative and gets a wide air-intake inlet. Higher-spec variants of the Baleno will get daytime running lamps and LED tail-lamps– a first from Maruti for India. Moving on to the side, the profile looks elegant and the roof line tapers slightly, resulting in a prominent rear haunch. The rear quarter glass and sharply raked rear windscreen give it a sporty look too. We're not too fond of the chrome lip spoiler, though it does liven up the tailgate a bit. The other good news is that Maruti will give the car 16-inch wheels in India, at least on the top spec.

    The Maruti Baleno’s front cabin features a neat, uncluttered dashboard design. It gets silver accents on the centre console. Higher trims will come with a seven-inch SmartPlay infotainment system that will be equipped with Apple CarPlay as well - a first for any car in India. There's a separate circular digital display for the HVAC controls. The Baleno for international markets comes with adaptive cruise control as well, however, it remains to be seen if this makes its way to the Indian model. 

    Powering the Baleno will be Suzuki’s new 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol motor developing 110bhp and 17.33 kgm of torque for international markets. In India, however, the familiar 1.2-litre petrol and the 1.3-litre diesel in 73.9bhp guise will be launched first, and the Boosterjet-equipped model will follow later. The 1.2-litre petrol model will also come with an option of a CVT gearbox for the first time. The diesel Baleno is likely to come to India with the newly launched SHVS fuel-saving technology as standard. 

    When it comes to pricing, we expect Maruti to price the Baleno competitively, as it has done with the Ciaz.

    More photos here

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