In recent times, EVs have become very popular in the Indian market. Now, we have a lot of electric cars on sale in the country and some of them offer a good driving range too. This includes the Tata Nexon Electric, Hyundai Kona EV, MG ZS EV, Mercedes-Benz EQC, etc. But, we have to admit that the EV space in India is still not very developed and to bridge the gap between the regular ICE vehicles and fully electric cars, we need some solid hybrid cars. Now, it seems that Maruti Suzuki is working in exactly that direction as recently a test mule of the Baleno was spied on test in India. So, is it the upcoming 2021 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Strong Hybrid? Let's have a look.
Now, we all know that the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a very popular car in the Indian market. In fact, it is the best-selling premium hatchback in India. The Maruti Baleno was first launched in the country in October 2015. Over the years, the company kept upgrading it with minor facelifts, new feature add-ons, etc. Now, just a few weeks ago, the company teased the Maruti Baleno on its social media handles. The carmaker posted a video on NEXA's official Facebook page with a caption 'The Bold is ready to Dazzle. A Big Surprise is Coming Soon!' So, what this surprise can be? We were earlier expecting it to be some special edition model or the launch of the Baleno RS hot hatch in its BS6 avatar.
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But now, recently a test mule of the Maruti Baleno has been spotted testing around the ghats of Lonavala in Maharashtra. The test mule of the Baleno wasn't wearing any camouflage but it was having a strain gauge apparatus on all its four wheels. It is speculated that this test mule is of the upcoming new 2021 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Strong Hybrid. That's because the company has already hinted that Maruti Suzuki is planning to bring some new strong hybrid vehicles in India. The strong hybrid vehicles will be sold alongside the company's line-up of mild-hybrid and CNG cars to further strengthen its eco-friendly mission in India. Also, the strain gauge apparatus on this test mule of the Baleno was likely used to evaluate the real-world feasibility of this strong hybrid system.
If you remember, earlier this year, Maruti Suzuki showcased the all-new Suzuki Swift Strong Hybrid in India at the 2020 Auto Expo. The Swift Strong Hybrid is sold in the international markets and it is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine. This petrol motor churns out 92 PS of power at 6000 RPM and 118 Nm of peak torque at 4400 RPM. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed AGS (AMT) only. Also, being a strong hybrid vehicle, this petrol engine is assisted by a 10kW electric motor that develops 13.5 PS of power and 30 Nm of peak torque. The electric motor also offers regenerative braking system, torque-assist, torque-boost, torque-fill, electric engine idling, etc. The Swift Strong Hybrid is claimed to deliver a whopping mileage of 32 kmpl. We believe that the Baleno will also get the same strong hybrid powertrain.
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As of now, the Maruti Baleno gets two BS6-compliant petrol engine options in India. The first one is a 1.2-litre K12B petrol motor that churns out 83 PS of power at 6000 RPM and 113 Nm of torque at 4200 RPM. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and a CVT. The other mill is a 1.2-litre K12C Dual-Jet petrol engine. This motor delivers 90 PS of power at 6000 RPM and 115 Nm of torque at 4400 RPM. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox only. This K12C motor gets Maruti Suzuki's advanced smart hybrid (mild hybrid) technology too. The new 2021 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Strong Hybrid might be launched in India in the coming months and it won't have any direct rival in India. Are you excited for the launch of the Baleno Strong Hybrid? Do feel free to share your opinions with all of us in the comments section below. You can also join our 91Wheels Auto Enthusiast Telegram group (click via mobile to join) curated exclusively for the fans, enthusiasts and the owners. Further, subscribe to our YouTube channel for more such amazing motoring updates.
