New Baleno gets 25,000 bookings

Maruti Suzuki India introduced the second-generation Baleno hatchback which receives a full-model change six years after it was launched in October 2015.

The company said it has received 25,000 bookings for the new Baleno so far since bookings commenced on February 7. The car will be manufactured at the company's plant in Gujarat.

The car has been launched at prices ranging from Rs 635,000 to Rs 949,000, ex-showroom. The car also gets a subscription option starting for a monthly fee of Rs 13,999 inclusive of registration, insurance and maintenance.

According to Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing director and CEO, MSIL, " The Baleno has been a game changer for MSIL helping it establish the Nexa channel in India. The success of Baleno and Nexa complement each other. Introduced in July 2015, Nexa helped MSIL to meet aspirations of young Indians."  Nexa helped win the confidence of customers who were not considering MSIL's products at that point," Ayukawa added.

The new Baleno comes with an overall investment of Rs 1,150 crore from Maruti and its suppliers. In a press note, the company said that the design language has also been redefined to what is being called the new 'Crafted Futurism' philosophy that will spawn upcoming Nexa models.  While the silhouette remains distinctly identifiable as a Baleno, key exterior highlights include newly-designed lights with LED signature, alloy wheels, and LED fog lamps.

On the inside, there is a new dual-tone, blue-black interior scheme with a new 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system, along with addition of a head-up display and a new flat-bottom steering wheel.  Feature additions also include rear AC vents, USB fast-charging ports and safety technologies like a 360-degree camera, hill-start assist, ESP and six airbags for any mainstream Maruti cars for the first time in India, the company said.

The underpinnings of the new Baleno have been changed too both in terms of the front and rear suspension, as well as getting a new 14-inch braking system. It also gets a new hydraulic clutch system for decreased effort. 

As part of its alliance with Toyota, the Baleno is badge-engineered as the Glanza. As the Glanza, Toyota has benefitted in terms of the sales numbers. The car sold 26,000 units in calendar 2021.