Baleno RS, Ignis, new-gen Swift and Swift Dzire to be manufactured at Marutis Gujarat plant
Maruti Suzuki has already started working on its third plant in Manesar, Gurgaon, which is expected to go in full production from early 2017. This facility will have an annual production capacity of 2.5 lakh units, making a total volume of 20 lakh units (Gurgaon and Manesar contribute to 17.5 lakh units). The Indian car major has invested Rs 3,000 crore to set up this facility around 100 km from Ahmedabad which will cater to both domestic as well as international markets. The new plant is also expected to bring down the long waiting periods of the Baleno. In addition to the Baleno, Maruti Suzuki will manufacture the Baleno RS, Ignis, new-gen Swift and Swift Dzire.
Baleno RSThe Maruti Suzuki Baleno, which sits at the premium hatchbacks sold in India, has already received 1 lakh bookings. We have tested and compared the car to its rivals and found the Baleno to have bettered the competition on many parameters. A fact that's clearly visible in car's popularity. The company now plans to bring a performance-spec variant called the Baleno RS. The company already showcased the Baleno RS concept at the 2016 Auto Expo. It will be powered by the new 3-cylinder Bosterjet turbopetrol engine that makes 112PS and 175Nm and will come paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The Baleno RS will compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI and Fiat Punto Abarth in India and will be priced between Rs 8.5-9 lakh.
IgnisSuzuki will bring its crossover-styled hatchback, the Ignis, later this year in India. This sub-compact crossover will mainly compete with the Mahindra KUV100 as this space still doesn't have many offerings. Based on the iM-4 concept and built on an all-new platform, the Ignis will be one of the premium offerings from Maruti Suzuki and retailed through the Nexa dealerships in the country. The India-bound Ignis will come equipped with a 1.0-litre Boosterjet that makes 110PS at 5,500rpm and 170Nm of torque between 2,000-3,500rpm. Get more details on the Suzuki Ignis here.
New-generation Swift and Swift DZireSuzuki is expected to showcase the 2017 Swift at the Paris Motor Show this year. This new-generation Swift too will be manufactured at the company's brand new facility in Gujarat. Based on the same lightweight platform as the Baleno, the new-gen Swift is expected to be lighter by 50-80 kg than the present iteration. Suzuki might also equip the 2017 Swift with a Booster jet motor along with a CVT/AMT transmission. The new Swift is expected to arrive in Indian showrooms by early 2017. Following the hatch, the Swift DZire too would be based on the same platform and arrive by 2018 in India.