Honda planning a 500cc bike for India, higher capacity models too

The Hornet 600

Middleweight (not by Indian standards, sir, that would be 125cc here) bike segment which usually comprises of machines in the region of 500 to 800cc seems to have suddenly caught the imagination of the Indian bikemakers. The launch of the Hyosung GT650, Ninja 650, and now the news of Honda planning a 500 for India, the hitherto power deprived bikers of this country never heard so much good news at one go!
Makato Yoshii, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Limited (HMSI) operating head (south and west), during the launch of the CBR250R in Andhra Pradesh said “We have vehicles from 50 cc to 1,800 cc. However, 50 cc is not preferred here. We will look to launch 500 cc, 1,000 cc and above engine displacement two wheelers in the Indian markets”.

In another statement, HMSI CEO and President Yukihiro Aoshima said “we are studying the higher displacement segment and here there are two possibilities open to us. The first is to go for 500 cc and above models where we may look at importing completely built units. But for models less than 500 cc engine displacement, we must study options to assemble them here.”

Aoshima san, we cannot tell you how much we would love you if you chose Route B and gave a proper blue blooded 400cc twin with reasonable touring capacities. Oh, and the keyword here is local assembly, probably production. That’s because we are poor people, but could still cough out about 3 lakh odd for such a bike. We already have enough liter class babies here, which we won’t be able to, and in my personal case, desire to buy keeping in view the chaos and disorder spread out across the length and breadth of this country (thanks UPA,NDA and all those who have ruled and fooled us thus far). Hope you are listening. I am sure there are thousands of biking enthusiasts like me who want to send the message across to you, and I would request them all to put their voices in digital letters here, so we could probably have a chance to send them across to HMSI as a compilation.

Any comments about the probable models and their respective launch dates would be pure speculation. So it’s better to put together what we want from such a bike. Motoroids, please contribute your views on the topic, either in the comments section below, or by participating in our discussion in the Talks section.

Hyundai’s Product Strategy for Next Three Years Comes to Light

Popular Korean car maker Hyundai is looking all set to make foray into the list of top few car makers in the world. It is vital for Hyundai to keep its portfolio updated and now, we have stumbled upon the car maker’s product strategy for next three years. The list, below, tells about Hyundai’s future plans for some of its cars sold in the Indian market. 

The Verna (Accent), that is present in India in its latest avatar, will see a model replacement in 2016. There are good chances that the new Verna will be making it to our market soon after.

The recently launched Elantra will soon get a facelift for US markets and the updated car will be surely making it to India, albeit, not before 2014. The D segmenter will also get a bigger 2.0-liter petrol motor.

Hyundai's Entry Level Executive Sonata will get a model change in 2015. The new Sonata will sport Hyundai’s Fluidic Precision design language. Fluidic Precision is the successor of Storm Edge, which in turn is the successor of Fluidic Sculpture that we all know of.Hyundai is also said to be working on more efficient motors for the next generation of Sonata .

The Santa Fe SUV, which recently got a model replacement with ‘Storm Edge’ design language, will soon get the 7 seat layout. The larger version of the Santa Fe will be seen replacing the Veracruz. The Santa Fe gets a direct injection 290-hp, 3.3-liter V-6 motor.

Tata AirPod- a car that runs on compressed air

Indian auto manufacturer Tata Motors recently showcased its new AirPod- a car that is powered by compressed air. The technologies employed in this vehicle have been licensed by Tata from Luxembourg’s MDI. The AirPod, which is in prototype stages currently, should become a production reality within a few years of time.

The one seater car can reach a maximum top speed of 75 kmph. The AirPod also sports an electric engine which can be used to power the car during unavailability of compressed air. This isn't all as the car can also recapture energy on application of brakes. A commercial vehicle based on the AirPod, to rival the Bajaj RE60, seems to be an interesting proposition.

Mahindra XUV500 petrol and automatic variants in pipeline

As if Mahindra XUV500 SUVs weren't already flying out of dealerships, it has emerged that Mahindra is wishing to bag more sales with petrol and automatic models. This info comes straight from Mr Ruzbeh Irani, Chief Executive Officer of International Operations at Mahindra, who said that the popular UV manufacturer has commenced working on both these variants. Before you may argue that no market exists for a petrol powered XUV in India, let me add that the upcoming variant is headed to markets like the US where petrol is cheaper than diesel. Talking about the auto transmission, it is being said that the auto tranny for the high selling diesel SUV might take as long as two years to make a debut. The XUV Auto will sport a 6 speed ‘box and this transmission will be sourced from another car manufacturer. Talks with Korean Auto giant Hyundai are on. Thanks to Indian car market fast warming up to the idea of automatic cars, it is pretty much sure that the XUV500 automatic will be launched in our country. What do you say? Will you buy a XUV500 Automatic? 

Mercedes Benz E Class facelift to look like this

Regulars here would be aware that we have been closely following the developments associated with the upcoming Mercedes Benz E Class facelift. The spy pics of the updated car, that have been regularly surfacing on the web world, have given us indications to what the car would look like and now, we have a rendering from CarandDriver  that, in all probability, is a close representation of the facelifted E Class (codenamed W212).

As we have been saying, the E Class refresh gets a new headlamp design with incorporated LED lighting and a new bumper. The car also gets a new design for daytime running lamps. Changes are not limited only to the front fascia as the rear fenders too will be replaced by less bold units. On the inside, the E Class will get a new dashboard with a more traditional Mercedes Benz design. The interior trim will get more colour choices and Heads-Up Display (HUD). As expected, the car will come with the latest Mercedes Command system along with the updated night vision system and latest MAGIC RIDE CONTROL.

It is being said that the current M271 four-cylinder petrol engines will be replaced with newer and more efficient M274 motors.  The car will get as many as four new petrol motors, ranging from a 1.6-litre four pot unit to a 429 bhp turbocharged 4.6–litre V8 and 2 oil burners in the form of four cylinder 2.1-litre and a 3.0 V6 motors.

 The E Class facelift should be out early next year with the public debut scheduled at the Detroit Motor show in January.

Sixth place went to Kenny Williams, KW Customs, of Angier, North Carolina, with 'Tantalizer', the much admired Mike Garrison 120 cubic inch engined 'bagger' with which he scooped the 2011 US Championship at Daytona Bike Week

9th annual AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building : Class Winners!

The Thunderbike has made a double-dose of custom motorcycle industry history at the AMD World Championship this year

Hero Ignitor: First Ride

Hero MotoCorp's latest offering in the two-wheeler space, the Ignitor is out in the market and ready to take on its rivals. So does it pack enough firepower to fight the competition in the premium 125ccsegment or is it just a Honda CB Stunner clone with fresh wardrobe?

After having split with its long-standing partner Honda Motor Corporation of Japan last year, India’s largest motorcycle company Hero MotoCorp has returned this year with an all-new brand identity in order to take on its two chief rivals Bajaj Auto and the fast emerging Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.

The latest motorcycle to roll out of the Hero MotoCorp plant in Haryana is christened as ‘Ignitor’ and it sure poses the exterior make up to set the premium 125cc segment in the country alight. Employing the exact same skeleton as the Honda CB Stunner, the Ignitor (Read: Hero Ignitor Launch Report) gets subtle yet impressive cosmetic revisions that present it with spunkier demeanor over its Honda sibling.

One glance and it is easy to see that the Hero Ignitor shares most of its exterior makeup as well as the under-pinning with the Honda CB Stunner (Read : Honda CB Stunner Road Test). However, Hero has surprisingly gone a step ahead than just re-badging and revising the stickers on the Ignitor and actually given the motorcycle a noticeably individualistic identity.

The quarter-fairing from the Stunner has been redesigned to incorporate pseudo-air intakes as well as neatly drawn angular lines that present the Ignitor with a much more aggressive stance than the Stunner. Complimenting the edgy lines of the revised fairing upfront is an equally sharp windscreen flaunting dark tint and helping the Ignitor stomp its belligerent stance. Completing the look are body-coloured rear view mirrors and body-coloured grab-rail while the centre panels are finished in matte-black.

£1000 worth of free extras with Ducati Multistrada

If you buy a new Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Sport or Touring before October 31 you'll receive £1000 of free accessories to add to your new bike.

Customers will be able to choose from a sport or touring pack. The sport pack contains a carbon Termignoni slip-on exhaust, carbon front mudguard and smoked screen.

The touring pack contains a 48-litre top box, Ducati branded Garmin Zumo satnav and smoked screen.

MRF Challenge 2012 announced

MRF Tyres have announced an all-new single-seater racing series featuring F2000 cars with the opening round to be held as a support race for the Indian Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit on October 26-28.

The series will use an all-new carbon-fibre chassis developed by Italian constructor Dallara, powered by a Renault 2.0-litre, 210 bhp engine mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. Compared to the F1600 cars used earlier in the earlier season, this will mark a considerable step-up for the competitors.

Round two of the four-round championship will be held as the support race for the first-ever Indian round of the FIA GT1 series at the Buddh Circuit, before returning to MRF’s home town Chennai for rounds three and four at the Madras Motor Race Track on 1-3 February and 8-10 February respectively.

A total of ten races will be held – with the support events likely to include two races per weekend each with Chennai rounds featuring three races apiece.

Dovizioso Finalizes: No Factory Yamaha Bike, No Tech 3 Yamaha for Him

One of the top riders, Andrea Divizioso, who races Tech 3 Yamaha, after having asked many times, has now sent an ultimatum to walk away to World Super Bike championship if he would not be let to race as team representative of Yamaha factory by the next MotoGP championship that would be held next year. Andrea Divizioso, from Italy, stands strong just behind Jorge Lorenzo, who is the current MotoGP topper and the hot favorite. This Italian racer is second after Jorge Lorenzo, and takes the fourth spot in the MotoGP championship. Dovizioso went on to say this to the Italian biking sports magazine, Motosprint, “Yamaha hasn't decided, it's buying time. I've already understood that meritocracy doesn't count so, despite my results, I already know that it's possible I may never have the factory bike.

But I have alternatives - other teams and other makes - and I'm also considering something very different.” What basically he aims at, he says, is a factory bike to run at MotoGP. However, he is just as clear to say that if he soon does not replace Ben Spies, he would opt for World Super Bikes championship (WSB) soon. He is honest with words, “If I don't get that, then I might as well go for different experiences.”

None of us are away from the realizing that Yamaha is unnecessarily favoring Ben Spies, who as of now, is not performing as well as he is expected to be, sometimes being termed as underperformer. What could probably be the reason of this is that since Ben Spies belongs to United States, and United States is a market that is quite high on importance for Yamaha profits. What Yamaha seems to be forgetting is the honest fact that it is Andrea Divizioso who would bring more points to factory Yamaha. It can be clearly seen the super way that Doviziozo glides on his Satellite bike, which would ultimately bring fortune to  the Team Yamaha factory.

Second Leg of Yamaha YZF-R15 One Make Race Championship - Season 2012 Rounds off in Style

After an exciting first round of the Yamaha YZF-R15 One Make Race Championship, the second round of the championship concluded today at the Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai, with bikers blazing the track with much gusto and thrill. This championship will be followed by three more rounds and will conclude on 23rd December 2012. The racing event has been organized in association with the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) and the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and is a part of the Indian National Racing Championship 2012.

The championship witnessed a great deal of enthusiasm from the contestants as both Yamaha and non-Yamaha customers participated in the race.

The Race Results were as follows:

RESULTS


Total no. of participants: 60 riders

RACE 1
: Mr. R Ramesh Kumar
1st Runner Up: Mr. Arun Muthukrishnan
2nd 

Runner Up: Mr. Meka Vidhuraj

RACE 2
: Mr. S. Prem Hari
1st Runner Up: Mr. Rahul G Rathod
2nd Runner Up: Mr. Sandesh P


Total no. of participants: 30 riders

RACE 1
: Mr. Shyam Shankar
1st Runner Up: Mr. Sudhakar Kesavan
2nd Runner Up: Mr. M Sudhakar

RACE 2
: Mr. D Dinesh Kumar
1st 

Runner Up: Mr. Shyam Shankar
2nd 

Runner Up: Mr. M Sudhakar

The contestants got on the track on Yamaha’s Super Sports YZF-R15 and experienced the breathtaking acceleration of the bike on a race circuit. Loaded with true Yamaha racing DNA, YZF-R15 provided complete racing experience to the biking enthusiasts and hands on feel of its power, stability, cornering and braking. Yamaha made their experience more exciting by mounting Daytona Racing Kits in the bikes. These kits are developed using valuable experience gained from MotoGP & World Superbike racing and are designed exclusively for racing purpose in a closed circuit.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Jun Nakata, Director - Sales & Marketing, India Yamaha Motor said, “The second season of the YZF-R15 One Make Race Championship has witnessed tremendous fervor and enthusiasm. We are happy with the kind of response we’ve been receiving throughout this championship. Through our innovative racing events like the Riding Clinic and R15 Racing Championships, we take forward our global legacy of being a brand that is refining the motorcycling culture in India by giving them an opportunity to represent the country on international platforms. The winners of last year’s R15 One Make race championships gave a fine performance at the recently held SUGO race in Japan.” 

This year the winners will be representing India Yamaha Motor at the Yamaha ASEAN Cup 2012 to be held later this year.


The technology in YZF-R15 has percolated from R1 (Deltabox frame/Fuel Injection/6 speed gearbox/styling/Liquid cooled 4V engine). Just like R1, it is light weight, has power on demand, besides having centralized mass, stopping power, aerodynamics, ergonomics and stability/rigidity, among others. It also has the controllability and maneuverability to maximize riding/cornering/braking performance.
Yamaha’s corporate culture has always given special importance to bike racing in India as a way of expressing the “spirit of challenge” that it values so highly.  Their racing endeavors especially the R15 One Make race Championship is one of the biggest initiatives by Yamaha that has proved to be very successful in its aim to inculcate the racing spirit as well as promote safe biking culture in the country.

Book Your Yamaha Ray Now!

With Yamaha opening bookings for its upcoming two-wheeler, Yamaha Ray, it is now confirmed that the scooter is soon to be launched now. This starting of bookings is just a gimmick by the company to gauge the demand of the new model, Yamaha Ray. However, the company has also put in a contest to win this new two wheeler if they manage to guess the exact or correct price, if they do, they can ride back home a Yamaha Ray. Not just this, whosoever wins the contest get coupons for 10% discount on the accessories for this same two wheeler. There also are other gifts to be won along with Yamaha merchandise for some of the lucky ones.

Not to forget is that the new model Ray has been brought a new “ray” of light with Deepika Padukone, when she was roped in to endorseYamaha scooters. This major step must have been a much required one since Yamaha Ray will be the first scooter in the Indian two wheeler market from the Japanese giant Yamaha. The scooter will be launched in a direct competition  with Honda. The rivals that Yamaha will have to face are Honda Activa, Honda Dio, Honda Aviator, and to some extent TVS Wego too. As for the current situation in the India scooter market, Honda owns the whole market, with 44% of the market share under it. And since Yamaha realizes the importance of its upcoming launch, the company is expected to play all its cards right, going out of the way to promote it in the correct market with the best of all strategies.

About the technical specs of the scoot, not much has been revealed, though we can expect the company to bring in the two wheeler with many colors, the engine is supposedly a 125cc mustering up a courage of 50 kilometer per liter. All together, the scooter is coming your way at a tag of around Rs. 50,000 only.

Bajaj Launches Kawasaki Ninja 650

Bajaj Auto, the country’s second largest two-wheeler maker has launched a new version of the popularKawasaki Ninja 650 model at a price tag of Rs 4,99,834. The earlier Ninja 650 R model was launched in the Indian market in June last year. Kawasaki Ninja 650 can finally be owned now! Kawasaki Ninja 650 has been launched recently in a refurbished version at Rs. 4,99,834 by Bajaj Auto. The Indian auto major, Bajaj Auto, colluded with the Japanese bike manufacturer Kawasaki, as per which, Bajaj gets semi knocked down units from Kawasaki, and the company would assemble and finalize the bikes at its plant in Chakan, Pune. When we talk of sports segment bikes in the range between 2 and 5 lakh, Kawasaki enjoys a market share of 65 percent.

India first got to taste Kawasaki Ninja bikes some time back in the year 2009, when it sold around 3000 units. Other than Kawasaki Ninja 650, India also enjoys a few more machines in this segment, KTM 200 Duke and Kawasaki Ninja 250R. At the event of the bike's launch, one of the presentees, Mr. Amit Nandi, the Vice President of Babaj Auto Probiking, said that the company would start taking the bookings for Kawasaki Ninja 650 next week and the consumers can have their orders by another 3 to 4 weeks.