This is perhaps the most interesting launch at Frankfurt, which is directly related to the Indian market. Following a lengthy teasing campaign, Suzuki has fully revealed its all-new Baleno 5-door hatch. The New-generation platform, with increased rigidity and reduced weight, enhances fuel efficiency, handling and stability, while still achieving high levels of safety and NVH performance.
The car will get a New 1.0 BOOSTERJET direct-injection turbo engine with high torque output and SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) and it will also get a 1.2 DUALJET engine. Both engines provide excellent fuel economy in combination with Suzuki’s most-aerodynamic hatchback design ever. The 3-cylinder 1.0 litre petrol engine gets 112bhp and 170Nm of torque. The 1.2 litre engine will get 90bhp and 120Nm of torque.
The car has a sporty profile that is low and wide, with an avant-garde front section, wraparound windows, expressive character lines and gently contoured, continuous surfaces, which convey elegance and power. Innovative features on the inside include advanced multi-information colour display, active cruise control with speed limiter, and a Smartphone Linkage Display Audio compatible with Apple CarPlay. Seating for five people features generous shoulder room in front, and generous legroom in the rear. We can expect this car to come to India as well and we expect the new Swift to be based on this platform.
Its not a welcome back for Suzuki Baleno from Indian market. Instead, Suzuki must have launched a model to compete the Hyundai i20 or the Ford Ecosport. Suzuki’s premium segment car X-cross has been receiving a luke warm response though the marketing is done from NEXA. Its for sure that Maruti-Suzuki is losing ground in India…
I used to only buy maruti cars from 1990 till 2008 when I bought the first Dzire in Chennai which was the last as, now I feel they have lost their edge and I stopped buying any more maruti cars. Out of the 20 cars I have bought over 30 years 15 were maruti cars. No more for sure.
Whatever said, still the top 3 selling vehicles in India are from Maruti, and in nos. they beat the others by a huge margin.