Maruti Suzuki’s position in the Indian automotive segment has had some challenges over the years but none of them could dethrone the company. The company is the maker of the Alto 800, and there can be no question on the car’s popularity simply because the sheer number of units that have been sold till now. There’s also the newly launched Vitara Brezza that has witnessed great response from customers in a short span of time. Then there’s the Swift which is one of the most popular hatchbacks in the country, whose popularity has only been challenged by Maruti Suzuki’s other hatchback – The Baleno.
It's safe to say that the Baleno saved the Nexa range from being a disaster as it was launched after the S-Cross which failed to make an impact.
Now the car is set to come with an all-new engine called the ‘BoosterJet’, and will be called Baleno RS. First unveiled at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo, the car sports minor tweaks to the exterior styling like a redesigned front bumper and sportier alloy wheels.
A turbocharged Baleno RS with fresh styling touches to both interiors and exteriors, coupled with the fact that the RS will be an all-out variant in the model lineup instead of a limited edition offering? Now that’s a combination that seems capable of repeating the success of what the Swift did for Maruti Suzuki. In case you really want to know the nitty-gritty of how the engine works, here’s a video explaining it.
The Baleno is currently powered by a 1.2 litre K-Series VVT engine that produces 83 bhp and 115 Nm of torque and although the ‘BoosterJet’ engine is only 1 litre in capacity, it is expected to produce 110+ bhp and 175 Nm of torque while giving a good fuel efficiency too. How have they managed to maintain fuel efficiency and a higher power output without the increase in engine displacement? In simple words with a smart fuel injection technology coupled to a turbocharger.
As of now, the car is expected to be launched around Diwali and will be competing against the other hot hatch offerings already present in the Indian market like the Fiat’s Abarth Punto and the Volkswagen Polo GT. After all, one can never have too many hot hatch offerings in the market, right?
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