The Week That Was – Suzuki Baleno | Holden Spark | VFACTS January

Suzuki Australia confirmed launch timing for its Baleno compact hatch this week, arriving here in the third quarter of this year and to be available with a direct-injected turbocharged engine similar to that slated for the upcoming Vitara Turbo.

Precise specifications have yet to be revealed, but, bigger than the Swift (3,995mm long, 1,745mm wide, 1,470mm high), expect the Baleno to be positioned as a Toyota Corolla competitor with a starting price in the high teens.

Suzuki says the Baleno's compact external dimensions conceal an interior that rivals most bigger small cars, and, with a claimed boot capacity of 355 litres, the Baleno at least equals many of its competitors for luggage-toting ability.

Holden offered the first details and images of its all-new 2016 Spark ahead of the model’s April launch.

Dropping the Barina prefix of the current model, the new Spark will line up in the sub-light vehicle class against competitors like the Suzuki Celerio, Mitsubishi Mirage, and the soon-to-arrive Kia Picanto.

Powered by a new 1.4 litre four-cylinder engine, the Spark will have a more-than-reasonable 73kW of power and 128Nm of torque underfoot.

the week that was.