Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS: Top 5 Facts!

Here are the highlights of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS which will be launched later this evening.

It’s been a long time coming, but India’s largest car maker is finally going to introduce a performance oriented car for the Indian car market in the form of the Baleno RS. Based on the Baleno premium hatchback, the RS model comes with a new 1.0 litre, three cylinder K10C petrol engine featuring a turbocharger and direct fuel injection.  A combination that does indeed sound interesting for it will at the end of the day be - an affordable Maruti Suzuki performance car!

Of course the sticker price is yet to be declared so we don’t know exactly how much it’s going to cost. But from an ownership standpoint it is certainly more alluring than a GT TSI or Punto Abarth.

Anyway, without further ado let’s take a look at the highlights of the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS.

1. Engine: As mentioned earlier the new Maruti Baleno RS will come powered by a three cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged petrol engine. The unit will develop 100bhp of max power @ 5,500rpm and 150Nm of peak torque 1,700 – 4,500rpm. This combined with the light 950kg kerb weight means that it has a commendable power to weight ratio.

2. Gearbox: The Baleno RS will be offered with the standard five-speed manual gearbox that standard versions get so you will get the joy of driving a car with a proper manual gearbox and a good engine.

3. Rear Disc Brakes: Maruti Suzuki has fitted the Baleno RS with rear disc brakes as standard. A welcome initiative considering the nature of the car.

4. Subtle styling upgrades: Maruti has given the Baleno subtle styling enhancements to give the Baleno subtle styling enhancements in the form of a revised front bumper with a black lip spoiler, there are black side skirts too along with black alloys while at the back there is a new sporty bumper and a subtle RS badge on the hatch.

5. Well Equipped: We expect the Baleno RS to be launched in the top-spec Alpha trim which means it will come rather well equipped like the standard models with the intuitive CarPlay touchscreen infotainment system, projector headlamps, keyless entry and start / stop, ABS with EDB, dual front airbags, rear defogger and wash wipe, etc.

Maruti Suzuki is launching the performance oriented version of the Baleno RS later today. Stay tuned to autoX for prices and more!