2019 Maruti Baleno (facelift) to launch next month - Report

21/12/2018 - 17:14 Maruti Baleno, Maruti Suzuki Yatharth Chauhan

Gaadiwaadi claims that the 2019 Maruti Baleno (facelift) is only a month away from its market launch. While we are yet to receive an official confirmation, the claim is in line with an earlier report on the launch timeline of the hot-selling B2-segment hatchback (monthly sales avg from June-Nov 2018 - 18,243 units).

2019 Maruti Baleno Facelift Image Rear Three Quart — The 2019 Maruti Baleno (facelift) will feature mild cosmetic updates and a more comprehensive safety net. The additions will result in a minor price hike across the trim range.

The 2019 Maruti Baleno (facelift) is expected to gain minor cosmetic updates in the form of revisions to its bumpers. While the report does not mention further changes, the headlight and grille could also look different. The interior will likely receive an upholstery change along with an updated features list for the mid-range trims. All variants of the Maruti Baleno offer dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child locks but the company will likely add reverse parking sensors, front seatbelt reminder (SBR), high-speed warning system, and speed sensing auto door lock to the standard safety kit to attain compliance much before the deadline.

The specifications are expected to remain completely unchanged. The Maruti Baleno has been on sale in two petrol and one diesel variant. The regular petrol version of the premium hatchback is powered by a K12M 1.2-litre that outputs 83 bhp and 115 Nm. The oil-burner on offer is the tried-and-tested D13A 1.3-litre that produces 74 bhp and 190 Nm.

The performance-focussed Baleno RS is propelled by an imported K10C turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that offers 100 bhp and 150 Nm. All the motors come paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Moreover, the base petrol engine is available with an optional CVT.

In January 2020, Maruti will replace the current lineup with the BSVI versions resulting in the discontinuation of the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre motor. While the in-house developed 1.5-litre diesel could make its way to the Ertiga, Ciaz and the S-Cross, Maruti will likely refrain from offering a diesel option on its smaller cars as the price difference between the fuel variants is set to double to over INR 2 lakh making them undesirable.

Maruti Baleno Diesel rear quarter Review — By late-November, the Baleno had registered a cumulative sales of 5 lakh units, with the last 1 lakh added in a span of merely 5 months.

Also Read - Maruti Suzuki starts working on its first full hybrid car - Report

The Maruti Baleno, which stays true to the Suzuki iK-2 concept, features a 'Liquid Flow' design theme. It became the first Maruti Suzuki model to be underpinned by the lightweight Heartect platform and went on to become the second model, after the S-Cross, to retail through the NEXA dealerships. Last month, the company reported that the cumulative sales of its B2-segment model have crossed 5 lakh units.

[News source - gaadiwaadi.com]