New Delhi: Suzuki unveiled its global premium hatchback, Baleno, at the opening day of the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday.
The car will be manufactured exclusively in India and will be exported to markets around the world. The car is expected to be launched in India before the festive season kicks in.
The Baleno will be the second car to be retailed through Maruti Suzuki’s upscale ‘Nexa’ outlets – after the S-Cross crossover – and the Japanese company will hope to get a bigger pie of the premium buyers through the model.
The petrol version will be powered by a 1.2 litre engine, while the diesel one will have a 1.3 litre engine. Baleno in India will have Apple CarPlay, which is a rare feature for cars of this segment.
At the press conference, Toshihiro Suzuki, President, Suzuki Motor Corporation said, “The Baleno stands out in terms of styling and utility as well as in terms of both driving and environmental performance. It is a car that will go beyond in all areas what people have come to expect in a compact car.”
This car is expected to give a stiff competition to Hyundai’s i20 and Honda’s Jazz in India.
The new Baleno with its stylish design, spacious interior and Suzuki’s latest technologies, is the ideal compact hatchback.
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.
It also offers comfort, including on long-distance journeys, with plenty of space for adults in both the front and rear, as well as generous luggage space.
Sales of the Baleno will start in Europe in the spring of 2016.
(With inputs from ANI)