In the 16 months since its launch in India, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno has had a lot going for it. It created a lot of excitement and somewhat redefined the premium compact hatchback segment in the Indian market. And sales of close to 150,000 cars during this period tell us how popular the Baleno is. Even as consumers continue to make a beeline for the Baleno, the company has upped the game in the segment by introducing the performance-oriented Baleno RS, powered by a new 1 l Boosterjet direct injection turbo engine.
The Baleno RS – Road Sport in this case, unlike the Rally Sport that most enthusiasts would associate the RS badge with – is primarily about the new engine. The suspension has been retuned compared to the standard Baleno, and the exterior has been refreshed to complement the positioning of the car, and the changes thereof are pleasingly appealing. But first, let’s take a detailed look at the Boosterjet engine.
NEW ENGINE
The Boosterjet 1.0 is one of the two engines Suzuki produces in the Boosterjet series, the other being the more powerful 1.4 l unit. The 998 cc, three-cylinder engine on the Baleno RS is a direct injection turbo engine that produces around 100 hp of peak power and 150 Nm of torque. The Boosterjet 1 l engine is claimed to deliver 20 % more power and 30 % more torque compared to a regular 1.2 l naturally aspirated petrol engine.
There are technical advances that enhance the performance quotient on the Boosterjet engine – at the core of the engine lie the direct injection system that delivers fuel at pressures of about 200 bar into the cylinders, giving the engine very efficient combustible air-fuel mixture that help reduce fuel consumption as well as emissions. In a DI engine, to quickly create an air fuel mixture inside the cylinder, the fuel to be injected must be atomised. Additionally, the shape of the intake ports and the pistons are optimised to generate a stronger tumble flow.
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