Either inadvertently or by design, a NEXA dealership has all but confirmed that the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno is due for its imminent launch in the country. Bimal NEXA, a premium Maruti Suzuki dealership in Bengaluru has listed the hatchback on its website with the ‘coming soon’ tag. The accompanying short description reads: “The road will never be the same as the most awaited hatchback is on its way. The premium hatchback is ready to hit the roads. This spacious and luxurious hatchback is powered with an unbeatable engine. Hold your breath and drive your dream car like never before!”
Codenamed as YRA and unveiled to the world at the just-concluded Frankfurt Motor Show, the Baleno hatch is 3995 mm long, 1745 mm wide and 1470 mm tall, theoretically lending it more interior room than its bestselling sibling, the Swift. The boot space is also larger, coming in at 355 litres. Exterior highlights include a V-shaped grille, upswept headlamp clusters featuring a L-shaped LED signature, a swooping roofline, blacked out A-pillars, a sharply raked rear screen, a chrome strip on the tail gate, LED tail lamps and 16-inch, 8-spoke alloy wheels.
Two engine options are on offer: a 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel. The petrol unit will produce around 90bhp of peak power and 118Nm of torque, with the diesel one nipping at its heels with 89bhp of max power and 200Nm of torque. Putting it down is a five-speed manual, while a CVT automatic option is also available for the petrol unit. The diesel version of the hatchback, meanwhile, will also get Suzuki’s SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) technology.
On the features front, the Baleno will come equipped with a multi-function steering wheel, engine starter button, projector headlights and LED daytime running lights, automatic climate control and Maruti’s SmartPlay infotainment system with integrated Bluetooth and navigation. Safety-wise, it will come with dual front airbags, ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).
To be sold in premium Maruti NEXA showrooms, the Baleno hatchback will go up against the likes of the Honda Jazz, Ford Figo, Hyundai Elite i20, and the Volkswagen Polo when it goes on sale on 26th October.
it look very smart & a dynamic car