A grand launch for the grander Baleno

Moving to aggressively capture the premium hatchback segment share, Maruti Suzuki launched the Baleno at a starting price of Rs 4.99 lakh. The new Baleno will be the second car to fall under the umbrella of the Maruti’s premium showrooms, NEXA.

The NEXA showroom owned by car dealer Varun Motors in Banajara Hills also took the wraps of the car on Tuesday in presence of Naini Narasimha Reddy, Home Minister of Telangana. Also present at the event were V Varun Dev, managing director, Varun Group; RC Raju, executive director; DK Raju, director; Neeraj, GM; Cecil, branch head and other members of the staff.

Minister Reddy handed over the car keys to the first customer P Venkata Subramanyam Gupta, a software engineer at the launch event.

The car comes with two engine options, both offering best-in-class fuel efficiency: the acclaimed DDiS 190 diesel engine (1.3 litre) with a fuel efficiency of 27.39 km/litre and the proven VVT Petrol (1.2 litre) with a fuel efficiency of 21.4 km/litre.

Baleno also comes with a CVT option (Continuously Variable Transmission) in the petrol variant. Dynamic, energetic and premium, Baleno is packed with features, many of them being offered for the first time in the premium hatchback segment.

The car has won praise from experts for its superior ride and handling, safety, fuel efficiency and low vehicle noise and harshness. It is built on a brand new Suzuki platform which is lighter (by 100 kg), stronger (by 10%) and more rigid compared to existing platforms in the industry.

The car will being manufactured in India will be sold in over 100 countries. "Baleno comes with sophisticated design and advanced technology. A lighter but stronger platform has helped our engineers offer best-in-class fuel efficiency in petrol as well as diesel options. Further, ABS and dual airbags are offered as standard in all variants of Baleno," shared a senior spokesperson from Maruti.