First turbocharged petrol engine from the carmaker.
Maruti announced at the Auto Expo 2016 that it will launch the Baleno RS in the country towards the festive season this year. Alongside the product unveil, the company stated that the Baleno RS will be powered by Suzuki's latest 1.0-liter three-cylinder Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine, and that sales would continue from the NEXA outlets.
The 1.0-liter Boosterjet engine is manufactured in India and powers the export-spec Baleno. On the export-spec Baleno, this engine develops 111 PS and 160 Nm of torque, and is paired to a conventional 6-speed automatic gearbox. Indian Autos Blog learns from sources that these power and torque outputs are achieved partly thanks to the superior quality (higher level of emissions control) of petrol in international markets. For the Indian market, Maruti's engineers are focussed on re-tuning this engine for the lower grade of fuel available in the country.
When asked about the estimated power output of the Baleno RS, one person involved in developing the product said - "We want it to be around the 110 hp mark. Maybe give-or-take a few, but that ballpark is what we're targeting." The person stated that the Baleno RS will target the VW Polo GT TSI primarily owing to its turbocharged and direct-injection engine. However, where the Polo GT TSI offers a 7-speed DSG, the Baleno RS showcased at the Auto Expo featured a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Also read: Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Maruti S-Cross vs Hyundai Creta - Comparo
The Boosterjet engine in the Japanese-spec Baleno delivers 20 km/l according to the JC08 testing cycle. However, Japan, like other markets, gets a 6-speed torque converter with paddle shifters.
