Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki has introduced their first ever performance oriented variant of a car that comes with a purpose built engine. We get to grips with it at the Buddh International Circuit to put the new Baleno RS through its paces. Somewhere on the distant mountain roads of Himachal the sweet sound of a petrol engine revving to glory emerges from obscurity. Soon after a bright red Maruti Suzuki Zen whizzes past around a wide uphill bend with the tyres finding some sort of imaginative grip in the driver’s head. You can notice the driver wrestle with the steering wheel while trying to control an insane amount of body roll, he gives it a final boot full of throttle while exiting the corner as the engine sings to its 6,000 rpm redline once again. My association with India’s very first hot hatchback is a love affair I am still not over with. For that red Zen is now thirteen years old and continues to be in my possession. It was the first Indian car to come with an all-aluminum (head and block) engine and was nothing short of a phenomenal pocket rocket. Back in the early 90s when the Zen was originally launched there was almost nothing as fast on our roads owing to its mere 765kg kerb weight, a very rev happy engine and a beautifully balanced chassis. And on paper at least, it looks like Maruti Suzuki is looking to recreate history here with the new Baleno RS. Weighing in at 950 kilos and packing in a contemporary petrol engine featuring direct injection and turbocharging, on paper at least the Baleno RS seems to be going the right way. But you see it’s not that simple. Back in the day, the Zen quickly became a cult car with enthusiasts fettling with the engine, even pumping nitrous oxide thought them or swapping bigger engines under the hood altogether. So will the Baleno RS become a cult car? Will it appeal to enthusiasts the same way as some of Maruti’s iconic cars of yore? Does it have what it takes, that intangible factor that tugs at the heart? Well, that’s what we are here at the Buddh International Circuit to find out. On the face of it, the Baleno RS comes with rather subtle styling cues to set it apart from the standard car. The front bumper has more aggressive design for the air dam and gets a lip spoiler, the head lamps get black inserts, the side profile remains identical as the standard car’s apart from the new black alloys and side skirts. The rear bumper is significantly different with a black plastic section lower down. But apart from these changes and an RS badge there is not much else that distinguishes it to identify with added fire power under the bonnet. Get inside the car and apart from RS branded foot mats there is nothing else here to indicate about its intentions. And here in lies an area of disappointment for me personally. If I am buying a performance oriented hot hatch I expect the car to feel just a little more special, a little different perhaps from the standard car. Maybe just a different steering wheel and seat covers. Essentially something to tell you that this is different, it’s special! Otherwise you get the usual host of equipment including form of the brilliant CarPlay system featuring voice commands, sat-nav and reverse camera display in the Baleno RS available only in the top-spec Alpha trim. Anyway, coming back to the heart of the matter. This new engine that we are talking about is Suzuki’s all-new 1.0 litre BoosterJet petrol engine. Essentially it is a heavily reworked and reinforced version of Suzuki’s three cylinder K10 petrol engine to handle the added oomph from the new age tech. As a result it now gets an intercooler as well. From the moment you fire up the engine, the familiarity of refinement from the motor is evident, it is absolutely quiet and vibe free. Slot the five-speed manual gearbox into first and as you crawl ahead it’s really not that different from the 1.2 naturally aspirated motor in the standard Baleno petrol. But from the moment you get to 1,700 rpm and onwards you instantly realize that the car drives differently. Although this is sort of the only time you feel that this is a turbocharged engine. Once peak torque of 150Nm kicks in at 1,700 rpm and holds steady to 4,500 rpm you can feel the added grunt but it’s a very linear curve and from around 2,000 rpm it feels like a naturally aspirated motor. Of course being a petrol engine it is happy to rev higher, and progress becomes more brisk after 3,000 rpm but it’s not like a traditional shove up your back you get from a turbo engine. Instead, as mentioned earlier power delivery is carried out in a linear manner and the engine feels eager to rev. But as max horsepower of 100bhp is churned out at 5,500 rpm and the rev limiter absolutely cuts off power at 6,000 rpm in an all-too sudden manner, its best to find that ideal upshift moment before the limiter comes into play. As the revs rise, the engine note, of course, gets louder but it’s not what you would call sporty. Also, vibration levels are a little too high at this point considering the otherwise smooth nature of the unit. And if I were to be honest, the eager K10B motor in smaller Marutis sounds better and feels more refined at full chat. And here in lies a problem with the new 1.0 BoosterJet engine. While it does pack in more power than the bigger 1.2 litre engine, it does not exactly pack in an exhilarating experience. And even though this is a light car you need more power and you need a nice engine note to add to the whole experience of a fast car, which the Baleno RS is made to be. As far as hot hatchbacks are concerned though straight line speed is only one aspect of the story. And since we were on the controlled premises of the BIC we could find out what this car is really capable of on the handling front. Having clocked in an indicated top speed of 173 km/h on the back straight it was now time to deal with the fast twisty sections of the track from turn 5 onwards. And on this account I am happy to report that the Baleno RS performed in a rather decent manner. Braking force from the 14inch (front) and 13 inch (rear) disc brakes - standard Baleno gets drum brakes at the rear - was good and they help the car shed speed quickly when you need to. Once you have the steering angle set and have made the necessary directional changes to prepare the car for the bend ahead, you can gently get back on the power again as the car leans in and slides into the turns to carry a nice little slide into the kerbs before mechanical grip is gained once again and you can power your way through. This was so much fun that I could have done it all day long. Yes, there is a fair amount of body roll but it’s very easy to balance this car around fast bends. So much so that I even managed to get the car fairly sideways at turn 9 and then elegantly collect the rear to proceed to the parabola. Some mornings are just better than others I tell you! As for the five-speed manual gearbox, it’s a nice unit that allows you to carry out light and precise gear changes at any moment to ensure you can always work that engine to keep it on the boil when you need it. So there you have it, the Baleno RS sure delivers on most counts as a performance oriented everyday car and I’m sure it will be nice to drive on the road as well, but it just needs to be a little more edgy and a little more exciting to wear the coveted hot hatch crown on a race track. And while that is a fitting verdict, I’ am not done rambling yet. For this engine is actually capable of developing more power. So watch enthusiasts and motorsport veterans buy it, fettle with the internals and ECU, fit a performance exhaust, lower the car, fit wider wheels and stiffen the suspension. And very soon hopefully we will see the Baleno RS fit seamlessly into the Indian motorsport scenario! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXsi41uaR6E

Maruti has worked to make the Baleno AT appeal to a wider customer base. Read on to find out how If you are an avid autoX reader, you have by now read our review of the diesel fueled Baleno. If you have not, here it is - Maruti Suzuki Baleno Diesel: First Drive. We came back quite pleased with the new Maruti Baleno’s stunning design as well as ride and handling characteristics. We also appreciated Maruti for offering ABS, EBD and dual front airbags as standard across all variants along with the fact that top-end variants come loaded with a fair bit of kit. We then went for a spin in the automatic model of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. Maruti is offering the Baleno automatic only in the second-from-base Delta variant. As a result, it is not as well equipped as the top-end Alpha variant of the diesel Baleno which we drove earlier. While the interiors remain much the same as the top-end variant, the Delta variant does not get the touchscreen CarPlay infotainment system. What you get instead is a dual-DIN stereo with an LCD display. Although the system offers USB, AUX, CD and Bluetooth compatibility along with steering mounted audio controls. You still get climate control, remote central locking, tilt adjustable steering wheel, front and rear power sockets. Although the leather wrapped steering wheel is gone and you get a manual day / night interior rear view mirror. As you can understand the car loses some equipment in the Delta trim but still comes decently equipped. Let’s now get behind the wheel of the car and see how this petrol automatic Baleno drives! Engine and Gearbox The Baleno automatic is powered by the company’s 1.2 litre, four cylinder, K-Series petrol engine. In fact the same combination is found in the Maruti Swift DZire automatic as well. The unit develops an identical 83bhp of max power @ 6,000 rpm and 115Nm of peak torque @ 4,000 rpm in the Baleno, like in the DZire. The only difference here is that the unit in the Baleno returns a higher 21.4 km/l claimed fuel efficiency as per ARAI. Driveability is mostly good from this engine gearbox combination under urban driving conditions. At low speeds the gearbox responds well to throttle inputs and the right gear ratio is selected in a smooth manner, at the right time. Going heavier on the right pedal though reveals the limits of the powertrain combination. The CVT’s rubber band effect comes into play. The engine also sounds quite coarse suddenly around 2,000 rpm. Post which it will rev towards the 6,000 rpm mark but gear changes and high NVH levels let the car down. You can sense that Maruti has tuned the Baleno automatic to be a comfortable and efficient city slicker rather than give it a performance oriented nature. This makes sense considering that in its Delta variant, the Baleno AT is aimed to be more of an affordable model. Ride and Handling As mentioned in our review of the diesel Baleno, the car remains planted at higher speeds and takes corners with confidence. It does a great job of cushioning road undulations as well, in fact it has comfort levels of a heavier car. Only thanks to its light weight, it handles better too. In this Delta trim, the Baleno gets steel wheel rims shod with smaller 185/65 R15 section tyres. But its higher profile rubber makes for a slightly more comfortable ride over sharper bumps on tarmac. The Baleno’s electronic power steering has also been given an extremely light setup at slower speeds to suit the laid back driving setup of the car. Feedback at slow speeds is limited to the way Maruti has tried to weigh up the unit. Go faster though and the steering response tightens up nicely, giving you reasonable confidence around bends. Verdict Maruti Suzuki has tuned the Baleno automatic to have better characteristics of an urban commuter rather than a highway mile muncher. This reflects in the choice of a CVT autobox, light steering setup at slow speeds and commendable fuel efficiency from the powertrain. Factor in that it is available only in the Delta trim and it’s clear that its numbers that the company is focusing on with the Baleno AT. And when it comes to numbers, nobody knows the market better than Maruti Suzuki. [tabs] [tab title="Maruti Suzuki Baleno AT"] Engine: 1,197cc / In-line 4-cylinders / Naturally Aspirated Fuel: Petrol Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic / Front Wheel Drive Power: 83bhp @ 6,000rpm Torque: 115Nm @ 4,000rpm Front Suspension: McPherson Strut Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam Front Brakes: Discs Rear Brakes: Drums Tyre Size: 185/65 R15 [/tab] [/tabs]

Maruti Suzuki is geared to take on the premium hatchback segment in the country with its all-new Baleno. And we must say right away that it's quite a looker. But does it have what it takes to shake up its segment? We go for a spin in what could be the next big thing for Maruti. With the festive season around the corner, automobile manufactures are scampering to launch new cars and variants, not to mention just offering down right blockbuster discounts. With buyers keeping an eye on the deals available, it's safe to say that most are focused on Maruti Suzuki - the country’s number one carmaker - as it's finally decided to join the premium hatchback segment. And your magazine, autoX, was one of first publications to drive the all-new Baleno hatchback. Exterior As first impressions last the longest, Suzuki knew they had to get this right. Therefore, their designers burned the midnight oil and the result was their new design DNA “Liquid Flow,” which ensures that the Baleno is one striking machine. But I am going to say what’s on everyone’s mind - I wish the Japanese manufacturer had come up with a design name that wasn’t so similar to their arch rivals. Moving on to its looks, the swooping bonnet, swept back headlights with projector head lamps, along with LEDs, and the V-shaped grille with chrome inserts around the borderline make the Baleno the most contemporary car from Maruti. Its profile is clean, yet muscular, with only a prominent crease running across the lower part of the doors. The C-Pillar, though is curvy, looks a bit like an elongated Volkswagen Polo with a smart roof spoiler - which does beautifully compliments the flowy design. By simply going by the dimensions – 3,995mm in length, 1,745mm in width, 1,460mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,520mm -- the new Maruti Baleno has great presence with its sleek design and fairly large dimensions (in fact, the Baleno is longer and wider than all its rivals). Interiors Its large dimensions come into play in aiding practicality, as the new Baleno is a very spacious car. And to check how smartly Maruti has used the space, I first sat in the rear while requesting a colleague of 6-foot plus to sit in front. The car didn’t let me down, as there was enough legroom for me to even stretch my legs - let alone sit comfortably. The front seats are fairly comfortable and provide adequate back support, but the rear seat squab was just too flat and lack any sort of side or thigh support. It felt more like a bench. If you're a staunch believer of retail therapy, then you’ll be happy to know the Baleno offers 339 litres of boot space, more than the Hyundai i20’s 285 litres. There is one snag though, and that is the high loading bay and deep boot floor, which will make loading and unloading heavy bags a muscle building or back breaking experience - depending on your fitness levels. Keeping practicality in mind, Indian road conditions and huge speed breakers, this new premium hatchback has a decent 170mm ground clearance, so one can drive at peace without worrying about scraping the floor. Maruti Suzuki have kept the cabin interiors all black, which I personally like, with silver inserts around the air conditioner vents and lower centre console. The design is uncluttered, easy to use, and the 7-inch infotainment touch screen display hogs all the attention on the dashboard. This is the first system in India which comes with Apple CarPlay as a standard feature. This lets you access your iPhone for various functions like accessing contacts, reading out text messages, viewing maps, making calls, etc. The hard plastic quality could have been much better though, as it lacks the premium feel that one looks for in this segment. Another feature which are sorely missed are the rear air condition vents, as this would have certainly improved the comfort levels of passengers sitting in the rear. The Baleno has a high-definition LCD instrument cluster display, which highlights driving G-force, engine output and torque, accelerator/brake operation, and energy flow (for vehicles with SHVS), among other things. Engine and Gearbox We first got our hands on the 1.3-litre diesel, and when we fired up the engine it became obvious that Maruti Suzuki engineers have worked very hard to keep the NVH levels down. With 74bhp, the Baleno felt eager, but with the turbo lag one ends up shifting gears on a regular basis, especially in city traffic. Also on the highway, the power tends to fizzle out, therefore, to get optimum speed you do need to keep the rev needle between 2,500-3,000rpm. This does make you wonder whether Maruti missed a trick by not plonking the higher state of tuned engine, 88bhp, which is in the Ciaz. Yes compared to its competition, the Maruti has lesser ponies as the i20 Eilte has 89bhp while the Jazz boasts of 98bhp, but, as mentioned earlier, it never labours for power and a lot of credit goes to the new monocoque platform, which is lighter and more rigid. The 5-speed transmission easily slotted into gear without any hassles and the hatchback responded instantly - but in a smooth linear fashion. Also read - Maruti Suzuki Baleno Automatic Review Ride and Handling When it comes to the handling department, the Baleno pleasantly surprised us with its razor sharp capability. Maruti products usually have a softer suspension set up, but with the Baleno they've managed to strike just the right balance as it never felt bumpy or wallowed on broken roads. It took on corners like no other Maruti can even imagine. It's definitely right up there with the segment champion, the Elite i20, and could make the Korean manufacturer slightly nervous. Ride comfort is very good as well, with the car dismissing undulations and potholes with ease. Even at higher speeds, the Baleno doesn't get unnerved as such by road imperfections. Suspension noise is at a minimal too, and the Baleno is a genuinely comfortable car to be in - be it on city roads or open highways. The only let down is the high level of wind noise generated from around the windows at higher speeds. Safety It's great to see that the country’s leading car maker is taking safety very seriously as the Baleno comes with dual air bags, ABS and EBD as standard across all variants. This will definitely set a precedent, which hopefully many other manufacturers will soon follow. Verdict Is the Maruti Suzuki Baleno the next big thing in the Indian car market? Yes, but it all depends on the how they price it. Being a Nexa product, Maruti’s premium range, they shouldn’t get carried away and position it at par with the i20 Elite and the Jazz, as both are more powerful. Also buyers still haven’t accepted the Maruti brand as a premium one. The Baleno has the potential to really shake up the segment, but then everything comes down to brass tacks. [tabs] [tab title="Maruti Suzuki Baleno Diesel"] Engine: 1,248cc / In-line 4-cylinders / turbocharged Fuel: Diesel Transmission: 5-Speed Manual / Front Wheel Drive Power: 74bhp @ 4,000rpm Torque: 190Nm @ 2,000rpm Front Suspension: McPherson Strut Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam Front Brakes: Discs Rear Brakes: Drums Tyre Size: 185/65 R15 – Sigma & Delta 195/55 R16 – Zeta & Alpha [/tab] [/tabs]