The 1.3-litre diesel motor is already offered in the 90 PS guise on the Maruti Ciaz, Ertiga and S-Cross and can also be tuned for high fuel efficiency with the SHVS system.
Maruti Suzuki’s first premium hatchback arrived in India this October and has been quick to garner attention with over 40,000 bookings to its credit. However, the disappointing bit was the use of existing engine options from the Swift in the same configuration. Even though the Baleno is lighter by 100 kgs making for better power-to-weight ratio, one can always appreciate more power being sent to the front wheels. It now seems the automaker is thinking on similar lines and plans to introduce a more powerful diesel version later in the timeline.
As per a recent report, Maruti is considering to introduce the 90 PS or ‘DDiS 200’ version of the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel motor for the Baleno some time at a later stage. Currently, the hatchback uses the same engine but with power output limited to 75 PS and 190 Nm of torque. Considering that the Baleno is lighter, the need for power isn’t felt as much but the premium car can surely do with some more.
Even when compared to its competition, the Maruti Baleno diesel is the most underpowered vehicle on paper. The Honda Jazz diesel gets 100 PS from its 1.5-litre motor while the Hyundai Elite i20 makes 90 PS from a 1.4-litre oil burner. Then there is the Volkswagen Polo GT TDI that produces 105 PS while the Fiat Punto powered by the same 1.3-litre unit available in the 93 PS guise.
The upgrade in power will make the Maruti Baleno one of the quickest cars off the line, not to forget one of the more easily attainable too. The automaker introduced the premium hatchback at a highly competitive price tag and even with a substantial increase, the numbers will still hold against most rivals. With the 90 PS version in place, the Baleno’s value proposition is sure to skyrocket among family and enthusiast buyers alike. The company could use the opportunity to equip the SHVS technology from the Ciaz to keep the fuel bills low.
Source – AutocarIndia.com
