First unveiled at the February Auto Expo, TVS Motor has launched its 110 cc commuter bike, the Star City+ with a retail tag of Rs 44,000, ex-showroom, New Delhi. The launch is part of four planned launches for this fiscal, one every quarter. The next launches include the Scooty Zest followed by the Victor and Apache.
Launching the bike, Venu Srinivasan, the chairman said, “We have been largely absent from the high volume commuter bikes segment with except the Sport which sells 25,000-30,000 motorcycles per month but with Star City+, we hope to touch 50,000 units in next six months”
K N Radhakrishnan, president and CEO, said the company is looking selling between 12,000 – 15,000 units of the City+ starting next month and the target is 20,000 units per month.
The company has added several new features to the bike that include a digital dashboard with an analogue speedometer and an advanced digital information display. It also houses service indicators which intimate the rider when a service is due as well as an econometer which guides the maximum fuel economy. Telescopic front shock absorbers and five speed adjustable rear shock absorbers ensure a comfortable ride on any road surface. The bike has been given high grip, button type tyres that help reduce the risk of skidding.
The Star City+ has been equipped with the Ecothrust engine that did duty in the Phoenix. The four-stroke engine churns out 8.4 PS of power at 7,000 rpm with torque of 8.7 Nm at 5000 rpm. The high torque ensures more power and pickup. Vinay Harne, the company’s president, new product development, said, “The Ecothrust took about year and half to develop and will go to other motorcycles with different displacements. This engine offers better fuel economy, improved pick-up and acceleration and a 65 kmpl fuel economy on actual road traffic conditions.”