Maruti Baleno has 99 percent localisation

Maruti Baleno will be the latest entrant in the premium hatchback category and the brand has worked up its way by designing an all-new platform from a clean sheet of paper. This is the first product that has been designed on this new platform.

The fifth-generation Suzuki platform has been made from high tensile steel that is about 100 kilograms lighter than the Swift, but at the same time more rigid. This enhances the strength of the product and makes it safer. Most of these high quality materials have been Made-In-India. When spoke to RS Kalsi, Executive Director (marketing and sales) who stated, “We have 99 percent localisation for this product.

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The Baleno returns a fuel efficiency of 27.3km/l and this makes it the most fuel-efficient hatchback in the country. This efficiency is for the 1.3-litre diesel engine that produces 75bhp of power and 190Nm, the same engine that powers the Swift as well.

As the weight reduction has been helpful, Maruti isn’t have to bump up the power to 90bhp and 210Nm.

Maruti is confident that the Baleno will be the new best-seller in its segment outpacing the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. The Baleno’s second engine is the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine. The petrol also comes with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) option too.

India is the first market to get the Baleno. Even the base model on the Baleno gets dual airbags and ABS as a standard feature. The bookings have started at the company’s Nexa Experience dealerships and the launch is on the 26th of October.