Maruti Suzuki Baleno With Full Hybrid Engine Spotted Testing
In April 2019, Maruti Suzuki India gave a mid-life update to its highly popular Baleno premium hatchback. With the update, the Baleno becomes the company’s first car to receive BS6-compliant powertrain and the first vehicle to receive mild hybrid powertrain in its segment.
Currently, the hatchback comes with three engine options – 1.2L VVT petrol, 1.2L DDiS diesel and 1.2L Dualjet, Dual VVT with SHVS mild hybrid technology. Now, the Indo-Japanese carmaker is working on fully hybrid version of the Baleno hatchback that’s recently spotted testing. The prototype is reported to be tested for hybrid range and its compatibility with different types of batteries.
The “sHEV 48V” moniker and ‘e-drive’ badge near the rear wheel arch hint that the prototype was powered by a 48 Volt hybrid engine, developed in collaboration with Bosch. With the fully hybrid powertrain, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno will witness two-fold increase in fuel economy. Read – Maruti Suzuki To Launch 6 Utility Vehicles In India
The existing Maruti Suzuki Baleno with SHVS mild hybrid system delivers a claimed mileage of 23.87kmpl. The non-hybrid petrol version promises 21.4kmpl and the diesel model returns around 27kmpl. The 1.2L Dualjet, dual VVT powertrain is currently offered on two trims – Delta and Zeta – priced at Rs 7.25 lakh and Rs 7.86 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively.
