MV Agusta to launch all-new Brutale 800 in India next year

MV Agusta India, the local arm of the iconic and ultra-premium motorcycle brand from Italy, is planning to bring the all-new Brutale 800 to its retail showrooms – MotoRoyale – in the January – March 2017 period.

The Brutale 800, which as per the company’s plans will begin its homologation process at ARAI (The Automotive Research Association of India, Pune) during June-July 2016, will be imported into India via the semi-knocked-down (SKD) route. According to Ajinkya Firodia, managing director, MV Agusta India, this stylish Brutale model could become the most affordable MV Agusta motorcycle once it reaches the retail showrooms.

Currently, the most affordable MV Agusta model on sale is the F3 800, which retails for Rs 16.78 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). Powered by an advanced three-cylinder, 800cc engine, the F3 comes equipped with high-end electronics including 8-stage traction control, ABS, multiple riding modes for tailor-made power delivery and other features.

Talking to Autocar Professional recently, Firodia said: “We plan to bring the Brutale 800, which is a pure ultra-luxury version of what a naked-street performance bike could possibly be. The all-new, evolved and more muscular Brutale 800 was first revealed at EICMA last year and it looks stunning. While it has garnered overwhelming response globally and is touted to be the most beautiful Brutale bike ever built, I am sure that once it comes to our retail showrooms here, customers will really adore it.”

“The bike will go into homologation in June and we plan to bring it between January-March next year. It could possibly be the most affordable MV Agusta bike when it comes,” the company chief added.

It can be recalled that MV Agusta India plans to sell around 300 units in the first year of its retail operations from six outlets. It is clear that the much-hyped model – Brutale 800 – will be crucial in giving a substantial fillip to its annual sales target once it arrives.

According to the company website, the fully redesigned, sculpted model is built using lightweight composite steel trellis and aluminium plate frame for high torsional rigidity. The model is powered by an improved, Euro 4-compliant 800cc engine that has an in-line three-cylinder layout with counter-rotating crankshaft. The engine is capable of producing a peak power output of more than 114bhp.

The new Brutale 800 is also equipped with advanced safety electronics that includes an ABS system from Bosch, EAS 2.0 gearshift (electronically assisted shift – an electronic gearbox that cuts down the time taken in shifting gears), hydraulically operated slipper clutch, and integrated ride-by-wire system, 8-stage traction control and others.

The Brutale 800 which, as per the company’s new growth plan, is a strategic model that accounts for 25 percent of total bike production, also sports multiple stylish features such as full LED headlamp, digital instrument panel, new handlebars, well-sculpted trapezoidal tank (capacity 16.5 litres), three-pipe exhaust system and LED indicators.

India’s growing midsized bike market  

According to SIAM data, the 800cc-1000cc motorcycle market registered a growth of 23.69 percent for FY 2015-16 YoY. The segment saw total registered sales of 2,062 units for the last financial year as against 1,667 units sold in FY2014-15. 

The prominent existing models that comprise this segment in India are Harley-Davidson's SuperLow and Iron 883; Kawasaki's Z800 and Ninja ZX-10R; Honda's CBR1000RR and CBR 1000R; Yamaha's YZF R1, YZF R1M, and MT-09; Suzuki's GSX R1000 and S1000; Ducati's Monster 821 and 959 Panigale; Triumph Motorcycle's Bonneville and Thruxton models. 

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