Maruti-Suzuki India limited (MSIl) on Wednesday announced that bookings for its new Baleno hatchback have started at Nexa showrooms, where it will be the second model offered after the S-Cross. Speaking to the media at a test-drive event, RS Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, MSIl said that he expects the new Baleno, which is a large hatchback in its new avatar to be a sales success.
The Baleno which was showcased at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show will be offered in India in petrol and diesel variants with a CVT-Automatic transmission option with the petrol car and is expected to take on the Hyundai i20 Elite and Honda Jazz.
The Baleno is the first car in India to feature Apple’s new CarPlay system. CV Raman, Executive Director, Engineering, MSIl told The Pioneer, “in today’s gadget obsessed world such technologies are a great marketing differentiator.” Asked about future support for Google’s equivalent Android Auto system, Raman said that could be an option going forward, but Android users as well as Windows Phone users could link their smartphones to the car using the ‘Smartlink’ system on the infotainment system which is fitted to the top ‘Alpha’ specification of the Baleno.
Raman also pointed out as this infotainment system is the same as the systems fitted on the Ciaz and S-Cross Alpha specification cars, those systems could have their software upgraded to support Apple CarPlay shortly, although that will have to wait till after the launch of the Baleno.
Kalsi also said that the Baleno is a ‘Global’ model which is why Suzuki is resurrecting the name, last used on the 1990’s sedan and that Manesar will be the global production hub for the car. He also said that in the future Maruti could consider launching variants fitted with the European engines which are considerably more powerful than the variants in India.
Maruti officials declined to announce a price for the Baleno, but it is expected that the car will be priced at par with the Hyundai i20 which would put it in the Rs5.5-8.5 lakh range.