Category Archives: Moto News

Piaggio plan to come back to India

A Financial Express report says that Piaggio plans to come back to India and plans to introduce both the Vespa and Aprilia brands. The Milan-based group’s wholly owned subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd will be producing the vehicles from a new two-wheeler plant. The Aprilias will be in the smaller cubic capacity range than the Vespas which would be in the 125cc-250cc range.

The article also gives brief details on Vespa’s previous two ventures into the Indian market through joint ventures with Bajaj Auto in the 60s and LML in the 90s.

To read the article at the Financial Express site, click here .

TVS Motor company launches StaR Sport

Two-wheeler major, TVS Motor Company today expanded its economy segment offering with the launch of a new motorcycle, ‘StaR Sport’ . StaR Sport is a stylish, compact and affordable 100 cc motorcycle, aimed at discerning urban motorcycle customers who are on the look out for sleek and compact style. The Bike has been built to deliver punchy four-stroke performance with excellent mileage and effortless maneuverability that will have customers tackle busy city traffic with absolute ease.

With the launch of StaR Sport, Indian customers will have a choice of a bike that offers a rare combination of easy handling agility and ownership costs that will make this model a force to be reckoned with in the entry level motorcycle category. The motorcycle comes in eye pleasing colours with chrome graphics, which adds to the contemporary design of the motorcycle. It has a well-sculpted petrol tank, which seamlessly flows into a sleek and continous side panels culminating into a flush type tail lamp unit. The freshly updated instrument panel, the alloy wheels and for the first time position lamps in this price segment will complement the Sporty look of the bike.

TVS StaR Sport will be retailed alongside the TVS StaR City and TVS StaR basic models but targeted at customers who prefer a ‘compact sized’ motorcycle. In terms of the style and ergonomics StaR Sport possesses a different character compared to StaR City or the base model StaR. However, it retains the same proven engine and the toughness for which the current line of the StaR brand stands for.

The TVS StaR Sport will come in two versions. The base version will come with alloy wheels in 2 colours – Red and Black. The deluxe version with alloy wheels will have fuel gauge, chrome graphics and will be available in three colours – Silver, Black and Blue. The base version will be priced at Rs. 33,990/- (ex showroom) and the deluxe version at Rs. 35,490/- (ex showroom).

In addition to the excellent functionality offered, TVS StaR Sport will be covered under the unique 5 year warranty scheme offered to all the ‘StaR’ customers, a reassurance of top quality undertaking by the company.

Relaunch of a “new & improved” Honda Unicorn and Shine

Honda’s solo run in the Indian two-wheeler market has lagged its joint venture Hero Honda. So it has got a couple of motorcycles and a plan up its sleeve, reports CNBC-TV18.

Honda may not be happy with the performance of its motorcycles – the 150cc Unicorn and Shine. That’s why it’s planning a revamp. Sources say Honda will redesign and launch them in April with heftier price tags.

When Honda launched the Honda Unicorn, its first motorcycle in India, in November 2004, many saw it as a possible threat to Bajaj Pulsar, which leads the 150cc segment. But it was no threat. Honda’s next launch in 2006, the 125cc Shine, could not outshine competition, either. Now Honda expects things to change with its new launches, with which it will also boost production capacity.

It will spend about Rs300 crore by 2010 to increase output to optimum capacity of 1.2 million units. Besides, sources say Honda also plans to import the CBR 600 – that’s to showcase its sporty side. It hopes all this will enhance its brands.