Maruti's first-ever hot hatch features a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder boosterjet engine (also debuting in the country), producing 102PS/150Nm
Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS
It’s time to buckle up, as Maruti Suzuki will launch its first-ever hot hatch, the Baleno RS, tomorrow in India. Once launched, it will become the fourth product that the company will retail through its Nexa range of premium dealerships and its second new offering of 2017. Prior to this, the country’s largest carmaker launched the Ignis hatchback in January this year.
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Since it’s a hot hatch, it boils down to how different it is from the standard Baleno. The biggest difference is, of course, the engine. The Baleno RS will be powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder Boosterjet engine that cranks out 102PS of power and 150Nm of torque. This means that the smaller, but more powerful, engine will outgun the 1.2-litre petrol engine, found under the hood of the standard Baleno by 18PS and 35Nm. That's a substantial bump in power and will pay dividend in accelerating faster to 100kmph from a standstill as compared to the standard, petrol-powered Baleno. Transmission duties in the hot hatch will be handled by a five-speed manual box and the power will be sent to the front wheels only.
The Baleno RS will be available only in the top-spec Alpha trim. That translates to a feature-rich package which will include 16-inch black alloy wheels, projector headlamps, daytime running LEDs, disc brakes on all four wheels, automatic headlamps, reverse parking sensors with a camera, SmartPlay infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and built-in GPS navigation, voice command system, push start/stop with smart key, automatic climate control, dual airbags and ABS.
Online bookings for the Baleno RS began on February 27, 2017 at a refundable amount of Rs 11,000. We expect the asking price to hover around the Rs 9 lakh mark. In terms of competition, the Baleno RS will take on the likes of Volkswagen Polo GT TSI, Ford Figo and the Fiat Abarth Punto. If you want to see how these cars stack up against each other, here’s an in-depth comparison for you.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS – Expected Price
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