The Maruti Baleno was launched in India in October 2015 and will complete three years in the market this year. It could receive a facelift by Q1 2019 (January-March 2019), says Team-BHP forum member RavenAvi, who has a good track record in revealing scoops.
The facelifted Maruti Baleno will likely gain LED projector headlamps and feature revisions to the front grille and bumper among other changes typically introduced by Maruti Suzuki with a minor refresh. More importantly, people in the know-how of the development say that Suzuki’s new in-house developed 1.5-litre diesel engine will replace the 1.3-litre DDiS 190 diesel engine with the minor refresh.
The 1.3-litre DDiS 190 diesel engine powers not only the Maruti Baleno but also the Maruti Ignis, Maruti Swift, Maruti Dzire, Maruti Ciaz, Maruti Ertiga and Maruti S-Cross. It’s a Fiat-sourced engine, used by Tata Motors as well.
Fiat does not plan to upgrade the 1.3L-litre diesel engine and make it BS VI compliant, which means that no vehicle sold from April 2020 will use it. To replace it, Suzuki is developing a BS VI compliant 1.5-litre diesel engine in Japan. Before the facelifted Maruti Baleno, Maruti Suzuki may employ this engine in the facelifted Maruti Ciaz and/or the next-gen Maruti Ertiga.
Also See: Maruti Ignis in the ‘Nexa Blue’ colour spotted
The facelifted Maruti Baleno’s production could commence well ahead of its launch, in September 2018. Before this model, the facelifted Maruti Ciaz, next-gen Maruti Ertiga and next-gen Maruti Wagon R are expected.
[Source: Team-BHP]
