ASHRAAQ
WAHAB
I
n 1995, Suzuki trotted out the Baleno nameplate
and attached it to a variety of their cars in different
markets. The Cultus was the first one to be
rebadged as a Baleno, followed by the Liana Aerio
and more recently the SX4. It wasn’t until 2007 that
India’s Maruti Suzuki produced a dedicated Baleno
model, and the Baleno became a standalone model.
The current generation we see today was first
offered to the Indian market in 2016 and has been
facelifted in 2019. You would have seen a smattering
of these brought down by grey importers, and now
the Suzuki agents in Sri Lanka, Associated Motorways
have decided to bring down the Baleno in GLX Turbo
guise. The model they offer is not the same as the
Indian market one, but is the one destined for the New
Zealand market. I am told it is made to more stringent
specifications, has more safety features and is made
in a completely different “export market” plant to
the domestic market Balenos. And yes, all Balenos
are made in India, even if someone says it’s “from
Japan”, that just means it went to Japan from India
and then came here.
So don’t be fooled by those who say it’s from
Japan...instead take solace in the fact that Toyota
India has launched their Glanza model which is
basically a rebadged Baleno, the first product as a
result of their new partnership with Suzuki. Toyota
don’t do rebadging on lemons, so the fact that they
chose the Glanza to wear their badge shows their
confidence in Suzuki and the Baleno. They even offer
a longer warranty on the Glanza in India than Suzuki
offer on the Baleno in that market (of course, with a
higher selling price).
Motor
maglanka.lk
37