Maruti Baleno launched at Rs 4.99 lakh
Maruti has launched the much awaited all-new premium hatchback Baleno at a starting price of Rs 4.99 lakh for the base petrol Sigma variant. The Baleno has four variants on offer – the Sigma, Delta, Zeta and the top-spec Alpha. A CVT automatic option is offered on the mid-level Delta variant only.
Maruti has priced the top-spec petrol variant of the Baleno at Rs 7.01 lakh. The base diesel is priced at Rs 6.16 lakh going up to Rs 8.11 lakh, whereas the petrol automatic will set you back by Rs 6.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The premium hatchback's similarity with Maruti’s mid-size premium sedan from the past ends at the name. Unveiled recently at the Frankfurt motor show, the Baleno rivals Hyundai’s established i20, as well as the recently launched Honda Jazz. In terms of dimensions, the Baleno is bigger than the Swift but is still under the four-metre mark at 3,995mm.
On the outside, the car looks quite impressive thanks to its flowing shape. While the front gets a new V-shaped grille, the headlamps are quite similar to the Swift, but smaller and pushed out to the sides. The top-spec variant comes with projector beams and LED daytime-running lamps. The higher trims also get 16-inch alloy wheels, as against the standard 15 inch ones, apart from a higher treatment of chrome.
On the inside, the car features a lot of familiar equipment from Suzuki’s stable, like the standard Suzuki steering wheel and most of the switches. However, setting it apart is the blue-lit instrument panel and the stylish, V-shaped centre stack on the dashboard. The top-spec Baleno comes with Apple’s CarPlay interface, which is a first in the segment. Other features include Bluetooth, aux and USB, steering- mounted audio controls, navigation and voice command system according to trim levels. The cabin is spacious
and offers ample comfort and storage space.
In terms of safety equipment, all variants of the Baleno come with two airbags, ABS and EBS as standard.
The Baleno is powered by Suzuki’s 1.2-litre K12 engine making 83.1bhp and 11.7kgm of torque, and the Fiat-sourced 1.3 DDiS diesel, which is good for 73.9bhp and 19.3kgm of torque. Both engines come mated to five-speed gearboxes, with a CVT automatic gearbox offered on the petrol variant.
Maruti also has a brand-new 110bhp 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol motor called BoosterJet for the international market, which won’t be coming to coming to India for the moment.
India is the first market to get the Baleno and will also perform as an exclusive global manufacturing hub. The Baleno will be the second model to be sold via Maruti Suzuki’s premium showroom channel, Nexa, after the S-Cross. If received well, the hatch will certainly provide a boost to the carmaker’s growth momentum in the country.
Honda to recall 3,879 City CVTs
Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) has announced that it will be conducting a voluntary recall of 3,879 units of its City CVT sedan. The recall will affect CVT-equipped Honda Citys manufactured from February to November in 2014.
Honda has issued this recall to update the software that manages the CVT gearbox. This is part of a global recall across several regions. The manufacturer says that the update will help optimise the hydraulic pressure applied to the CVT.
The software will be updated free of charge at all Honda dealerships across the country from October 24, 2015. The Japanese automaker will be directly contacting customers. Furthermore, customers can check if their cars are affected by entering the car’s 17-digit VIN number on a microsite created on the company’s website.
Indian government to lease 55 Mercedes-Benz diesel cars
German automaker Mercedes-Benz has been awarded the mandate to provide 55 top-spec E250 CDI sedans on lease to the Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs. The leased vehicles will be used to ferry foreign dignitaries including Heads of State, Presidents, Prime Ministers and other top diplomats.
According to the carmaker, the E-Class has sold more than 30,000 units sold in India, and is the first luxury car to be produced in India since 1995. The order is likely to enhance the carmaker’s presence in the Indian market, and also boost its already impressive growth this year. Mercedes has recorded a strong growth in 2015 with the company posting record sales for the period of January to September 2015 delivering 10,079 cars, a growth of 34 percent compared to the same period last year.
