[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Cant imagine Maruti giving a facelift to the baleno...

Its better they bring in a new model... The only thing they know is the cadillac kinda grill (short one for zen remake, big one for wagonR)... and bringing up the number plate to the centre (eg: zen/ wagonR)...

[rahul_intlad]

The new baleno will be the costliest made-in-India Maruti Suzuki car till date. This new vehicle — which will be pitted against the Chevrolet Optra and Toyota Corolla in the premium mid-size car market — is being build from scratch by Maruti and Suzuki engineers.

The new car — with a nearly Rs 8-9 lakh price tag — will be positioned in the fast-growing premium sedan market, which has witnessed an 80% growth in 2005, outpacing all other segments. "The car is being developed on an all-new platform and is being engineered from scratch by a team of Indian and Japanese engineers. This will mark a big image change for Maruti, which has till now been identified as being a small car maker," a source said.

Source:
Times of India

[abhibh]

Its on a higher side IMHO... Maruti is known for VFM cars and they getting into Optra segment doesn't make a sense. But who knows it may get a break even point as its a Maruti after all...

Originally Posted by rahul_intlad

The new baleno will be the costliest made-in-India Maruti Suzuki car till date. This new vehicle — which will be pitted against the Chevrolet Optra and Toyota Corolla in the premium mid-size car market — is being build from scratch by Maruti and Suzuki engineers.

The new car — with a nearly Rs 8-9 lakh price tag — will be positioned in the fast-growing premium sedan market, which has witnessed an 80% growth in 2005, outpacing all other segments. "The car is being developed on an all-new platform and is being engineered from scratch by a team of Indian and Japanese engineers. This will mark a big image change for Maruti, which has till now been identified as being a small car maker," a source said.

Source:
Times of India

[Samurai]

Will these guys ever learn? Nobody wants a Maruti car that costs above 8 lakhs on the road. A model that is considered beneath NHC can't suddenly be competing against Corolla, Optra or Civic. As of now OMB is VFM car about 1 lakh cheaper than NHC. It is going to be very hard to swallow NMB to be above NHC and competing against Corolla and Civic.

If 8-9 lakhs is ex-showroom, then the OTR price is around 10 lakhs. That will death knell for NMB. It will take a miracle for Maruti to pull it off.

[iraghava]

At this price range it'll be very hard for Maruti to compete. They've already burnt their hands with the current Baleno so best of luck to them.

Also I have a question for the Baleno owning people here purely in the interest of gauging public opinion, "Would you buy the new Baleno at 9 lacs?" Because from previous experience what seems to happen is that when spending money to get into the upper-C/D segments people do consider the badge snobbery factor too before the purchase. And that is where Maruti loses out compared to Honda/Toyota/GM etc.

[sajo]

Originally Posted by Samurai

.... It will take a miracle for Maruti to pull it off.

...or a diesel.
Seriously, Maruti is aiming way to high. THe fact that the competition (Optra, Corolla, Civic and Octavia to some extent) look so much better with clean, purposeful lines doesnt seem to bother them much.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by iraghava

Also I have a question for the Baleno owning people here purely in the interest of gauging public opinion, "Would you buy the new Baleno at 9 lacs?"

Very doubtful. First let's see what on offer, we still don't know the Indian specs of NMB.

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Very doubtful. First let's see what on offer, we still don't know the Indian specs of NMB.

True, I guess we'll have to wait & watch for the complete product before taking a final call.

[Equus]

The pricing of the Swift and the new Zen was spot on. There is no reason to speculate why they would be off with the new Baleno. I am optimistic!

[Ajay_J]

Originally Posted by sajo

...or a diesel.
Seriously, Maruti is aiming way to high. THe fact that the competition (Optra, Corolla, Civic and Octavia to some extent) look so much better with clean, purposeful lines doesnt seem to bother them much.

I dont understand why they should not aim high or what is wrong with it at all. They had the technology the only thing they did not find in India is the Market. Many companies dont sell luxary products in India because they dont find big market for it. Now as everybody have realized there is growing demand for luxary products they are putting efforts in the direction. I pretty sure that they will pull it off.Maruti's brand name will work magic for them. The time will tell the tale of it. Lets wait and watch.

[rahul_intlad]

If maruti plan to launch a car for around 9 lakhs then,I think they should do something like toyota[honda,nissan even] and create a different premium brand like lexus[acura,infiniti].

[jkdas]

9lac? Nah, or they should rechristen the new car as Baleno something.

ah, rahul said it, but like Verna/Laura would be better

[WhiteKnight]

Originally Posted by jkdas

9lac? Nah, or they should rechristen the new car as Baleno something.

Take it easy guys. The news came in TOI-so take it with a pinch of salt. ACI says 7 lakh, that is what I would like to believe

The new car would be better off with a new name. Baleno is not a brand name worth to carry forward- it has too much negative baggage attached

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Ajay_J

I dont understand why they should not aim high or what is wrong with it at all. ....

....Maruti's brand name will work magic for them. The time will tell the tale of it. Lets wait and watch.

Luxury car buyers are very brand conscious, or image conscious. Why buy a 10 lakh maruti car when there is a 2 lakh maruti? All major car manufacturers recognise this fact, therefore maintain a separate luxury car divisions like Acura, Lexus, Audi, Infinity, Lincoln, Cadillac. They even make sure Acura & Honda or Toyota & Lexus doesn't sell from the same showroom or serviced at same service center.

For example, a fully loaded Passat is more expensive than Audi A4, but A4 gets you more respect than Passat because of branding.

If Maruti wants to address Luxury car buyers, they better start a new car division and build a luxury car brand.

[Ram]

Friends, I have an issue with Times of India's rather loose usage of the term "premium mid-size" sedan.

In most of our "premium mid-size" sedans, rear-seat knee-room is still cramped.
When will they finally stop taking India for a ride?

A six-foot tall driver and a six-foot tall passenger behind him,
are still uncomfortable after all these years of "innovative" design.



Snake-oil marketeers in India have nudged the "premium car" concept all over the place, starting slowly from microcars and building up to small sedans. We still position the humble Corolla, as some kind of premium sedan.

Looks like they collectively wish the consumer to perceive anything overpriced and highly taxed as "premium". Brandfoolery?

At least one hatchback sold in India: the so-called "perfect family sporty car" is so badly cramped, Harry Houdini would consider it a stunt prop.

Let's just have the Baleno as a zippy small notchback sedan, shall we?
And call a spade, a spade. The "premium" badge does not belong to anything of poorer quality than an "E" class Merc.

Ram