Maruti Sure Didn't Hold its Punches with the Baleno RS Showcase

The souped-up version of Maruti’s Baleno premium hatchback was showcased at the recently culminated 2016 Indian Auto Expo and India’s largest automaker shed its mild-mannered facade and came out all guns blazing. The hot-hatch donned the moniker ‘Baleno RS’ and seemed all ready to take on the likes of Polo GT TSi and the current segment leader, Abarth Punto. It is expected that the car will be launched sometime around the 2016 festive season.

Speaking of the festivities, the real firecracker lied under the hood. The unit offered in Baleno RS is the first ever turbocharged, small-displacement petrol engine to be offered in India by Suzuki. The 3 cylinder, 1.0-liter petrol mill produces a whopping 110Ps of power and 170Nm of peak torque. The powerplants come mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and we are sure that with a few “swift” changes one will be able to get this hatchback accelerating from 0-100kmph in no time, courtesy of Baleno’s lightweight construction. Add to this, the car’s premium features and the Baleno RS might just be the ultimate hatch to have.

Aesthetically, Baleno RS gets updates on the outside as well as on the inside that distinguish it from the standard hatch. Updates include extensions for the bumper, grey painted alloy wheels, dual-tone bumper at the rear and a faux diffuser. Baleno RS’s cabin gets a much more performance-oriented upholstery as well.

Watch Showcase Video of Maruti RS Baleno / Ignis at Auto Expo 2016

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