Frankfurt 2015: Suzuki Baleno Compact Hatch Shows Its Humble Offerings

As reported earlier, Suzuki has finally taken the covers off its all-new Baleno at the on-going Frankfurt Motor Show.

Toshihiro Suzuki, President, Suzuki Motor Corporation said, “The Baleno stands out in terms of styling and utility as well as in terms of both driving and environmental performance. It is a car that will go beyond—in all areas—what people have come to expect in a compact car.”

Showcasing a new design language called “Liquid Flow” from the Japanese carmaker, the all-new hatchback with an all-new name will go on sale in Europe come early 2016, offering potential buyers the promise of a “compact body, spacious interior, and efficient powertrains.” Clearly, that’s not all.

On top of the fuel-efficient engines that we’ll tell you about in a bit, the Baleno also rides on a new-generation modular platform from Suzuki. The Japanese carmaker tells us that the fruits of the new labour is said to increase structural rigidity and reduce weight, all the while improving fuel efficiency and handling, whilst retaining a high level of safety and low noise, vibration and harshness throughout.

Its overall dimensions then add up to 3,995mm long, 1,745mm wide, and 1,470mm tall – this is only slightly smaller compared to the Suzuki iK-2 Concept which was said to preview the all-new Baleno.

What this is then, is a B-segment hatchback that’s only slightly larger than the popular Suzuki Swift, and for now, looks to be headed for sale in Europe: nothing has been said about any Asean arrivals just yet, so hang tight.

Powering the new Baleno will be a variation of three powertrains. These are:

• 1.0-litre BOOSTERJET direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine
• 1.2-ltire DUALJET, and
• SHVS hybrid with 1.2-litre DUALJET engine

On top of all that’s been mentioned, Suzuki is also touting best-in-class (B-segment hatch) luggage space, offering up to 355 litres.

There’s also a host of impressive tech being thrown in, amongst which are a multi-information colour display screen, adaptive cruise control with speed limiter, and Smartphone Linkage Display Audio compatible with Apple CarPlay.

Safety is also moving on upwards for the brand, who now offers Radar Brake Support amongst “other comprehensive safety features for safety and peace of mind.”

All things considered, it’s becoming clearer now that the Baleno, despite being a B-segmenter, looks to be gunning for a more tech savvy approach that may not infringe on the humble Suzuki Swift’s appeal.

More details soon.