Maruti is looking to 7 sell two million cars by 2020 h and new launches -apart from strengthening its focus e on existing models -are go ing to be critical.
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Suzuki claims the Baleno can cope with five adults in its cabin, although the car’s dipping rear roofline would indicate that headroom could be an issue in the back seats. The side profile has a distinct identity of its own.
Maruti Suzuki is aiming for double-digit growth in sales every year through this decade to hold on to its 45 per cent market share in India’s passenger vehicle market, not withstanding the current sluggish market conditions.
The Baleno measures 3995mm in length, 1745mm in width and is 1470mm tall, improving on the Swift’s length and width of 3,850mm and 1,695mm respectively.
“Baleno will be sold through our new premium network of showrooms, Nexa”, MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said. The Baleno will come strapped with Maruti Suzuki’s long-trusted 1.3-litre diesel engine and 1.2-litre petrol engine. In India, it is expected to get 1.2L petrol and 1.3-liter DDiS 200 diesel.
On the inside the Baleno features a simple dash design which houses a seven-inch touchscreen display (as seen in the new Vitara), featuring Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink connectivity. For the rest of the world it’s the new Baleno, but for India it will get a new name as Maruti Suzuki won’t use a nameplate which was not popular in the country, like they removed the SX4 from S-Cross!
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The India-specific bicycle is said to be not very different from the model showcased in Frankfurt. It has similar headlamps to the Swift, albeit with an LED strip, a “V”-shaped chrome insert surrounding the honey comb grill with the Suzuki logo sitting in the centre”. With its “Liquid Flow” design theme, compact body, spacious interior, and efficient powertrains-all on a new-generation platform- the Baleno offers style, utility, manoeuvrability, driving performance and fuel efficiency.
