Standing under the glare of the arc lights at Suzuki's stall in Messe Frankfurt last week was a car that was manufactured at Maruti Suzuki India’s plant in Manesar.
The incoming Baleno has been built on a new generation platform. Though it has resemblances to the older model, this is an all-new car that will provide Suzuki and Maruti, with a second large hot hatch to be placed alongside the existing Swift. And yes, the Baleno will still be sub-four-metre in size.
The Baleno claims to sport a low and wide silhouette that helps underline a sporty yet elegant look. It promises to offer “style, utility, manoeuvrability, driving performance and fuel efficiency” to buyers looking for a compact car that delivers.
Highlights of the car include a platform with increased rigidity and reduced weight, enhanced fuel efficiency, better handling and stability, and high levels of safety and NVH performance, as per the official communication from the company.
The powertrains on offer are expected to be a new one-litre BoosterJet direct-injection turbo engine with high torque, 1.2 DualJet engine and the same engine with the SVHS smart hybrid tech. It is also said to be capable of featuring some fancy new tech like adaptive cruise control and radar brake support. On a more practical note, the new Baleno’s boot space is said to be 355 litres.