Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS to come teamed with 6-speed automatic transmission: Report

Indian car-maker Maruti Suzuki's Baleno RS — the Boosterjet engine-powered model that was showcased in February at the Auto Expo 2016 —is expected to come teamed with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The hatchback will hit the market during the festive season of this year.

According to a MotorOctane report, the Baleno RS would be offered with a six-speed automatic gearbox, in addition to the variant with the five-speed manual gearbox. It is the first car in India to be powered by the Boosterjet of Suzuki. The 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine would churn out close to 110bhp of power and 170Nm of peak torque.

The Baleno RS, the new variant of the Baleno premium hatchback, will come packed with features like reverse camera, automatic climate control and 7-inch touchscreen SmartPlay entertainment system with Apple CarPlay.

Although the Baleno RS will look identical to the regular model, the exterior add-ons in the new model, like side skirts and new diamond cut alloy wheels, would be enough to distinguish the two from each other. The new variant will also get sportier front and rear bumpers. Inside the cabin, the Baleno RS is expected to have the same features as the regular model except for the minor tweaks like exclusive leather covers.

To be pitted against Fiat Abarth Punto, Ford Figo 1.5-litre petrol and Volkswagen Polo GT TSI in India, the Baleno RS is expected to be priced at about Rs.9 lakh (ex-showroom). It will also be sold through the Nexa premium dealerships of Maruti.

[1 lakh = 100,000 | 1 crore = 10 million | 100 crore = 1 billion]