Suzuki releases images of new Baleno ahead of debut

The new Suzuki Baleno hatchback will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15, 2015. The company has released some images revealing the car.

The Baleno was displayed as the iK-2 concept at the Geneva Motor Show, earlier this year. It's design is inspired by the concept.

The new pictures show the car with sweptback projector headlamps, a V-shaped honeycomb grille with a chrome strip running along its lower edge, a bumper with a wide air dam with horizontal slats and round fog lamps, a roofline that slopes downwards towards the rear, a shoulder line that dips at the A-Pillar before rising upwards and wraparound tail lamps. The car is also seen sporting ORVMs with integrated turn indicators, blackened A and B-pillars, alloy wheels and a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

The Baleno is expected to be powered by a 1.0-litre, turbocharged Boosterjet petrol unit. In India, the company could use 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines to power the car. Suzuki's SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle System) technology is also expected to be used in the hatchback.

The Baleno is expected to be positioned above the Swift hatchback. It will take on the Hyundai Elite i20 and Honda Jazz.

Maruti Suzuki could drop the Baleno name in favour of something else.