Maruti Baleno RS Discontinued Due to Poor Demand

Maruti Suzuki has decided to discontinue the Baleno RS hatchback amidst the ongoing market slowdown. Sources claim that the company hasn't been producing new models for a few months now due to poor sales figures. Now, it seems like Maruti has decided to do away with the performance focused hatchback. The Baleno RS has also been removed from the NEXA website, which more or less makes the news official. The remaining units sitting unsold in NEXA dealerships are available with massive discounts of up to ₹1.5 lakh, to help clear the stock before the end of the year.

Also See: Suzuki Baleno and Celerio Discontinued In UK

The Maruti Baleno RS is the performance version of the Baleno, and is based on the top-trim. As such, it gets all the premium goodies like projector headlights, large 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, steering wheel mounted controls, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Apart from that, the Baleno RS also features driver and front-passenger airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX mounts, and parking sensors in the rear.

Also See: Maruti S-Presso Seen At Dealership

The Baleno RS is powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, capable of producing 100 bhp and 150 Nm of max power and torque respectively. It comes mated to a slick-shifting 5-speed manual. In comparison, the "regular" Baleno comes with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated perrol engine, which produces 82 bhp and 114 Nm. Along with a 5-speed manual, you can also opt for a CVT automatic, which is great for urban crawling. The Baleno is also available in a mild-hybrid variant, which helps improve the fuel-efficiency. It should also be noted that while the regular Baleno is now BSVI compliant, the Baleno RS is not. This could also be another reason why Maruti Suzuki decided to discontinue the car.