Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS - All you need to know

Maruti Suzuki will expand the Baleno range in India by launching the new Baleno RS in the next few weeks.

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS will be sold alongside the standard Baleno through Nexa dealerships in the country.

Ahead of its launch, we have listed down the key new inclusions to expect from the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS.

Engine
The biggest change in the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS will be the all new 1.0 litre Boosterjet engine. The Boosterjet petrol unit is a three-cylinder turbocharged engine and is already available in international markets. The company will equip this motor in the Baleno's RS variant. Featuring a smaller displacement and lighter internals, the Boosterjet engine should help the Baleno RS lose some weight to its standard sibling. In addition to quicker acceleration, the lighter weight will also aid fuel-efficiency. The 1.0 litre, three-cylinder engine will generate around 110 hp of power and 170 Nm of torque and is expected to get a 5-speed manual and an automatic transmission.

Exterior
The new Baleno RS will largely feature the same exterior as the standard model, although there will be some add-ons. It will be equipped with a V-shaped grille, swept back projector headlamps with daytime running lamps and fog lamps on the front bumper. The car will also get “RS” logo at the rear along with LED tail lamps, rear wiper and some chrome accents on the rear and side. In order to give a sportier look, the car manufacturer might also offer the Baleno RS with a new sets of alloy wheels.

Interior
Just like the exterior, the cabin of the upcoming Baleno RS will remain largely unchanged. However, the carmaker might equip the car with new seat upholstery with the RS badging. The infotainment system will consist of a touch screen display mounted in the centre. The users can also connect their smartphone and make calls, send and receive messages, browse music and use Siri. Other features will include steering mounted audio and voice controls. One can also expect drilled pedals to accentuate the sporty character of the car.

Safety
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS is expected to have an impressive mix of active and passive safety features. The car will include dual front airbags, seat belt pretensioner and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) as standard. Maruti Suzuki has also equipped the car with Effective Control Technology (TECT) for absorption and dispersion of crash energy. Other safety equipment will include reverse parking sensor and camera, rear defogger, automatic headlamps and disc brakes at all four wheels. This will make the Baleno RS the second car after the Fiat Abarth Punto in the hot hatchback segment to have disc brakes on all wheels.

Price and Competition
With a turbocharged and more expensive engine along with a few additions to the feature and safety list, the Baleno RS would definitely be sold at a premium over the standard Baleno. If Maruti Suzuki wants to taste success in this emerging segment, the Baleno RS would have to be priced between Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. Starting off with a steep price-tag will only result in customers finding more value in cars such as the Volkswagen Polo GT and the Fiat Abarth Punto.