Maruti Suzuki Baleno waiting period likely to get extended: Report

As Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest carmaker, is looking to expand its premium hatchback Baleno's reach in the international markets, the model is likely to see an increased waiting period in India, where it is currently being manufactured.

A report of OverDrive says that the current waiting period of the Baleno, which stands at six months may get extended in India as the company's Manesar plant also has to supply the model in question to other countries. The plant, which has the capacity to churn out 5.5 lakh per annum is currently producing 8,500 to 10,000 units of Baleno per month. The recent spy shots of the Baleno also suggest that the model could be launched in the Indonesian market.

The Baleno, the second model to be sold through Maruti's Nexa premium dealership, has garnered over one lakh bookings in the country and it currently has over 45,000 booking that is yet to be served. Maruti will also be producing the Baleno at its new plant in Gujarat, once it starts functioning in 2017.

Launched in October, the Baleno, which rivals Hyundai Elite i20 and Honda Jazz, is offered in four trims and seven body shades. Under the hood, Maruti Baleno includes a 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine and a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. While the petrol engine is tuned to develop 83bhp and 115Nm of torque, the diesel mill churns out 74bhp and 190Nm of torque.

Meanwhile, images of the Baleno with new alloy wheel colour has started doing the rounds. According to a report of Gaadiwaadi, Maruti's two Nexa offerings — the Baleno and the S-cross — now come with grey-coloured alloy wheels, replacing the silver-coloured alloy wheels.