Hero MotoCorp reveals 4 new innovation-led two-wheelers

Hero MotoCorp today revealed a quartet of new two-wheelers at the Auto Expo. These comprise the Splendor iSmart 110, Extreme 200 S, XF3R and the Duet-e scooter.

The company, which is the leader in the two-wheeler space in India, has in the past year come under selling pressure in the wake of the rural market slowdown. Sales of its commuter motorcycles have seen a decline compared to its scooter portfolio.

Now, in a bid to boost sales of its Splendor series of commuter motorcycles, Hero MotoCorp is to introduce i-smart technology in an all-new 110cc Splendor. This motorcycle has been developed completely in-house by Hero MotoCorp engineers. The model is powered by a 110cc torque-on-demand engine and will carry forward the i3S tech first introduced in the 2014 iSmart Splendor.

Developed in-house by Hero MotoCorp’s Indian R&D team, the i3S technology (idle stop and start system), a feature more commonly seen on passenger cars, automatically shuts the engine within five seconds of idling (mostly at traffic signals) and turns it on as soon as the clutch is engaged. 

The naked Extreme 200 S sports bike, which is slated to be launched in 2017, will mark Hero’s entry into the premium commuter bike segment. The concept is powered by a single-cylinder, 200cc engine that develops 18bhp.

The XF3R, another concept styling-cum-design concept, will, according to Pawan Munjal, chairman, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, “come equipped with a 250cc powertrain.”

The Duet-e is an electric scooter concept aimed at showcasing the manufacturer’s efforts at developing future-ready mobility solutions based on alternate energy sources. Based on the current production series Duet scooter, the e-scooter employs current EV technology and is claimed to be suited for inter-city commuting.  

In calendar year 2015, Hero MotoCorp sold a total of 6,296,920 two-wheelers, posting -2.29 percent year on year growth. In January 2016, the company saw another month of over 550,000 unit sales. It  sold 563,348 units to only 0.78 percent growth YoY (January 2015: 558,982). Saving the blushes was thje the scooter range, led by the new Maestro Edge and Duet.