Maruti Launches Baleno At A Price of Rs. 4.99 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) launched Baleno on Monday priced between Rs. 4.99 lakh and Rs. 8.11 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The petrol variants cost Rs. 4.99 lakh and Rs. 7.01 lakh respectively. The diesel models are priced at Rs. 6.16 lakh and Rs. 8.11 lakh. Additionally, there is also a petrol automatic variant which features continuously variable transmission (CVT) and it comes at a cost of Rs. 6.76 lakh.

MSI managing director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa told reporters,

“Baleno is a real global model to satisfy our customers not only in India but also across global markets. I am excited that this model will be exported to Japan from India therefore opening a new chapter in the long history of MSI.”

The plan includes manufacturing the product at the Manesar plant of the company and exporting the model to over a 100 countries. As far as India is concerned, the automobile would be made available through the new network of MSI’s premium showrooms, Nexa. Baleno will be the second model after crossover S-Cross to be sold through Nexa outlets in the country.

Another official from the firm, executive director marketing and sales for MSI, R S Kalsi said,

 “We are looking for leadership position in the segment in a gradual manner. We are optimistic about this model to achieve top slot as it is packed with features.”

Names of automobiles all set to provide close competition to Baleno include Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo, all priced between Rs 5.34 lakh and Rs 8.63 lakh.

The automobile comes equipped with Apple CarPlay, a car entertainment system, making MSI the first OEM in India to offer it. Its special features also include multi-information speedometer and UV reduction glasses. The mileage of the petrol variant is marked at 21.4 kmpl, while the diesel version is at 27.39 kmpl.

Despite sharing its name with the previous premium sedan Baleno, the new MSI automobile shares nothing with its predecessor. The mid-sized sedan Baleno had been discontinued in 2006 and replaced by SX4.

MSI plans to launch more models within this fiscal year and is aiming to achieve a target of two million sales annually in another five year’s time by 2020.