Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS expected price, features, specifications
Earlier this year at the Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki unveiled the Baleno RS and announced its launch in the Indian market. While it was scheduled to be launched around the festive season, now it seems like the Manesar-based car maker has pushed the plan to early 2017.
By Ravi Ved
In the RS trim, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno will make more power and have additional body kit
Earlier this year at the Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki unveiled the Baleno RS and announced its launch in the Indian market. While it was scheduled to be launched around the festive season, now it seems like the Manesar-based car maker has pushed the plan to early 2017. Although Maruti has previously launched a the Ciaz in the RS trim, there is a lot more excitement surrounding the hatchback. The Baleno RS isn’t just a car with a sportier body kit, it packs a lot more.
Engine: Maruti Suzuki isn’t known in the Indian market for making too many cars that cater the tastes of enthusiasts. In fact, they have more often than not played the game safely and assuredly. The Baleno RS however is different, and a lot of it is owing to the engine that it hides under the hood. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS comes with the 1.0-litre BoosterJet that uses forced induction to obtain a maximum output of 110bhp and 170Nm. The Baleno RS is likely to come fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Features: The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a pretty well-equipped car in its class and the RS trim will carry forward all of these features. The standard model already comes with projector headlamps, touchscreen infotainment with inbuilt navigation, button start, keyless entry, steering mounted controls and more. In terms of safety, the Baleno RS comes fitted with two airbags up front, ABS and EBD. The Baleno RS will also have a sportier body kit ensuring that it lives up to the ‘RS’ moniker.
Price: The Baleno petrol is currently priced between Rs 5.25 lakh to Rs 7.58 lakh, while the diesel top-end trim is priced at Rs 8.36 lakh. With the Baleno RS expected to carry a sticker price of around Rs 8 lakh, expect the Baleno RS to be placed between the diesel and the petrol. When it gets launched towards the beginning of 2017, the Baleno RS will compete against the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GT and the Abarth Punto.
