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).
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.
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.
