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      Honda HNESS Cruiser Launch In Segment Ruled By Royal Enfield

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      Royal Enfield has a market share of over 75% in in the 200cc to 500cc motorcycle segment in India
      Aiming to challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield in middle-weight bike segment, Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India (HMSI) will be launching its first cruiser in the Indian market tomorrow, 30th Sep 2020. While nothing is 100% sure as of now, it is expected that Honda’s new motorcycle will be based on Rebel 300.

      As may be recalled, Honda Rebel 300 was patented in India in 2017. Rebel 300 and its 500 cc sibling have been on sale in international markets since 2017. The 2020 Honda Rebel 300 and 500 models were unveiled at 2019 EICMA in Milan.
      For the Indian market, Honda is expected to name the cruiser motorcycle as ‘H’NESS’. This will be pronounced as Highness. Honda had applied for trademark application of Highness first, but that was objected. And thus they decided to patent the name H’NESS instead.
      Honew H’NESS Cruiser Motorcycle Name Registered. Highness name gets objected.
      Earlier Honda had released a preview of the motorcycle’s exhaust note, which had a thumping sound, quite similar to that of Royal Enfield motorcycles. This is a strong clue about the specific customer base that Honda’s new cruiser will be targeting in the country.
      Design
      The motorcycle is expected to have a retro look and feel, even though it will be loaded with a range of modern equipment such as all-LED lights and digital instrument cluster. Some features come across as quite radical, for example, the elevated water-drop shaped fuel tank. Overall, the cruiser has a lean mass and is expected to work well for both city rides as well as long distance touring.
      If it is the Rebel 300 which is coming to India, than powering the cruiser will be a 286 cc, DOHC, liquid cooled, single cylinder engine that delivers max power of 30.4 ps at 8000 rpm and max torque of 27.4 Nm at 6500 rpm. This is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It is expected that slipper clutch will be offered with Highness, as is available with other Honda motorcycles.
      Rivals
      Primary rival of Honda HNESS will be the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350. Highness will also compete with Jawa 300 cc motorcycles. While Jawa may have faltered on deliveries, problems like these are unlikely to happen with Honda. The Japanese automaker has the technology, experience and a wide countrywide network to back its new cruiser motorcycle.
      Of 60,809 motorcycles sold in the segment, 46,707 were of Royal Enfield – with a 76.7% market share in Aug 2020
      One of Royal Enfield’s USPs is that its motorcycles are quite affordable. To compete effectively, Honda will have to reduce the price gap between Highness and its rivals. While Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is expected to be launched at a starting price of Rs 1.68 lakh, Jawa BS6 currently retails in the range of Rs 1.73 lakh to Rs 1.82 lakh. Honda Highness could be launched in the price range of Rs 2.5-3 lakh. Honda is expected to increase localization in order to launch Highness at a competitive price point.
      Honda H’NESS will most likely be sold via the premium ‘Honda Big Wing’ dealerships. Launched in 2019, Honda Big Wing dealerships currently sell big bikes such as CBR650R, CB1000R, CBR Fireblade, Africa Twin and Gold Wing. After Highness 300, Honda could also launch the corresponding derivative of Rebel 500 in the Indian market. More

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      Honda Sales and Exports Aug 2020 – Activa, Hornet, CBR250R, NAVI

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      While Activa continues to hold a strong position, the recently updated XBlade put up a surprisingly strong performance in domestic as well as overseas markets
      The automotive industry has been reeling under the effects of an economic meltdown when the Covid-19 pandemic hit us and the situation worsened thereafter. Finally, after a long period, we can say that the industry is on a path to recovery seeing the current numbers which are coming our way.

      Honda two-wheelers have put up a decent performance in the domestic market during the last month. When compared to August 2019, the YoY sales in August 2020 has risen by 0.62 percent in the domestic market. However, exports continued to witness a downfall as it recorded a decline of over 41 percent on YoY figures.
      Domestic Market
      The Activa continued to be the most sold two-wheeler in India. It was also the most sold scooter in India during the same period and that too by some margin. Although it witnessed a slide of 17.36 percent compared to August last year, it still managed to retail a handsome 1,93,607 units last month. The CB Shine followed next with 1,06,133 units sold in August 2020. It is also the most popular bike in the 125cc category as of now. It managed growth of 21.39 percent when compared to August 2019.
      Honda Two Wheeler Domestic Sales Aug 2020
      Dio (42,957), Unicorn (29,441), Livo (18,980), Dream (18,559), Grazia (12,588) have also put up decent performance as all registered positive YoY growth. The Livo especially registered a growth of over 90 percent in comparison to last year during the same period. For reference, in the BS6 era Unicorn was upgraded to a 160cc motor from the 150cc unit.
      However, the biggest surprise was the recently updated XBlade which sold 5,557 units last month as compared to 2,500 August last year, thus registering a growth of 117 percent. The Hornet 2.0 was launched at the end of last month hence recorded only 400 units sold. Other products such as Aviator, Cliq, Unicorn 150, Hornet 160R and CBR 250R have been discontinued from Honda’s lineup altogether.
      Exports
      Honda Two Wheeler Exports Aug 2020
      As mentioned before, the export numbers were not too encouraging. However, CB Twister continued to sell in off-shore markets with 4,810 units exported last month as compared to 1,040 units sold in August 2019. Navi (2,286), CB Shine (2,086) and Dio (1,786) were the next to follow but witnessed a degrowth of over 17 percent, 32 percent and 84 percent on YoY figures.
      However, it seems the XBlade has found a liking for overseas consumers as well as it managed to export 16,68 units last month as compared to a meager 48 units sold overseas in August 2019. Other than Dream (1,109), all the rest witnessed a huge drop in sales figures. Interesting thing to note is that CBR250R is still being manufactured in India, but only for exports. 30 units were exported last month.
      Also READ:
      Two-wheeler sales August 2020Top-10 Motorcycles: August 2020 More

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      Honda Highness Cruiser Arriving Soon in India – First Teaser Video

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      The Rebel 300 derivative will be launched on the follow-up to the recently launched Hornet 2.0 by Honda
      We all know by now that Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India (HMSI) will be launching an all new cruiser motorcycle in India on 30th Sep. While Honda is still very tight-lipped about the exact configuration of the bike, they have now revealed the first official tease video, which hints at the name of the new motorcycle.

      This new Honda cruiser motorcycle for India is expected to be christened as Highness. As we have already mentioned in our previous report that in all probability the Honda Highness could be a direct rival the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350.
      Honda has patented the Rebel design in India back in 2017. However, whether the new Honda Highness cruiser motorcycle will be based on the existing Rebel 300 architecture or a completely new platform is yet to be known. Although one thing is for sure that it will be designed keeping in mind the Indian consumers. Below is the latest teaser of Honda Highness.
      [embedded content]
      Design & Features
      If we were to guess that Highness will draw its inspiration primarily from Rebel 300, then it is expected to carry forward the same retro-style design. It is expected to carry minimalistic bodywork with a low slung body and sport usual round headlamps. The retro classic look will be accentuated by the round LED turn indicators and rectangular LED taillight and short front and rear bobbed fenders. However, the most noticeable highlight is the water-drop shaped fuel tank.
      In terms of features, it is expected to get an all-LED lighting setup and a fully-digital instrument cluster which will display crucial information like gear change indication and fuel-consumption. The cruiser employs a 41mm telescopic fork at front and twin shock absorber at rear. It is expected to be equipped with disc brakes on both ends and will also provide ABS with a single-channel variant as well as a dual-channel variant.
      Powertrain Details
      Coming to its mechanicals, the Rebel 300 is powered by a 286cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC engine that can generate up to 30.4 PS of power at 8000 rpm and 27.4 Nm of peak torque at 6500 rpm. This unit is expected to be linked to a six-speed gearbox. There shall also be a slipper clutch to assist the transmission. It is expected to come with small 16-inch tyres which will be wrapped around by 130-section tyres.
      Estimated Price
      Honda is planning to retail the upcoming Highness through its premium dealership wing- Honda Big Wing. The brand has in the past announced its plan to expand the premium dealership network to 75 cities across the country. The Rebel is likely to be priced around Rs 2.5 – 3 lakh (ex-showroom), which is a premium of about Rs 1 lakh over Royal Enfield rival motorcycle. The makers might also launch the Rebel 500 based cruiser bike in India at a later stage. More

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      Honda Teases Exhaust Note of New Motorcycle – Royal Enfield rival

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      Honda has released a new teaser with audio, indicating the soon-to-be-launched product could be a twin-cylinder cruiser
      Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) recently teased a new product which is scheduled to be launched on September 30. The teaser read “Your Highness is arriving”. The company has followed up the teaser with an audio of the exhaust note today. The solid thumping of the exhaust note makes us think the mystery Honda has a twin-cylinder heart.
      Is it Honda Rebel 500 Cruiser?

      The exhaust note also strongly indicates that the motorcycle in question could be a cruiser. If we combine the parameters twin-cylinder and cruiser, the first product that comes to mind is the Honda Rebel 500 cruiser.
      Products like Bajaj Avenger and Royal Enfield Thunderbird (which is soon to be succeeded by Meteor) has made the cruiser body style quite popular among Indian motorcycle enthusiasts. The relaxed riding position and unhurried yet effortless performance of a medium displacement cruiser make it an attractive proposition for daily urban grind and the occasional weekend getaway. With Royal Enfield not likely to address the 500 cc cruiser segment with its next generation J Platform range, the Honda Rebel 500 could slot in a sweet spot. Listen to the audio teaser below.
      [embedded content]
      Honda Rebel 500 – Specifications
      The Rebel 500 is equipped with a 471 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine which is the mainstay of Honda’s hugely popular medium displacement range of motorcycles. Paired with a 6-speed transmission, the engine develops 45.5 hp and 44.6 Nm of torque. On board the cruiser, the motor is tuned to delivery good low-end torque and relaxed highway performance.
      As far as hardware goes, the Honda medium displacement cruiser sports a trellis frame, telescopic front forks, twin rear shock absorbers, front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS, alloy wheels and high-profile tyres. A low-set saddle, high-mounted handlebar and forward-mounted rider foot pegs make for a quintessential cruiser ergonomics.
      The Honda Rebel 500 adopts textbook cruiser styling but integrates modern features like full LED headlamp and fully digital instrument console. The steeply inclined fuel tank gives it a unique character. The Rebel 500 weights 191 kg and carries a fuel tank capacity of 11.2 liters. As per the WMTC cycle, the cruiser’s fuel efficiency stands at 27 kmpl.
      Rivals
      The Honda Rebel 500, if launched in India, would be pitted against Royal Enfield’s upcoming 650 cc cruiser. It would also be pitched as a cheaper alternative to the Harley Davidson Street 750. We expect Honda to employ CKD assembly rather than import the cruiser as a CBU. This way, the pricing can be competitive.
      It is also possible that HMSI’s new mystery product is not exactly the Rebel 500 but a closely related variant which is fined tuned for the Indian market. We will know soon. More

    • 175 Shares199 Views

      New Honda 300cc Cruiser Launch on 30th Sep – Royal Enfield, Jawa Rival ?

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      The new Honda bike is reported to be developed specifically for our market but it could be based on an international platform
      Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has teased a new product which is set to be launched on 30th of September. The vague teaser image shows a crown with tagline “Your Highness is arriving on 30th September”. The world premiere is most likely to be streamed live.
      What could be the new Honda product?

      Honda seems to be on an aggressive product launch strategy. Just recently, the Japanese brand introduced the new Hornet 2.0 with a slightly larger engine and it is already gearing up for its next big launch.
      Some expect the new Honda to be a medium displacement motorcycle with a capacity of around 300-400 cc. This fits well with a long-standing report that claimed Honda is developing a retro classic motorcycle to compete with Jawa and Royal Enfield, which has been enjoying a near-monopoly in the Indian middle-weight motorcycle space.
      New Honda India motorcycle launch teaser
      The crown in teaser image suggests the new Honda bike’s nameplate or its marketing tagline would revolve around the words royal or king. However, there is absolutely no indication on what the body style is going to be. One would usually expect a Royal Enfield rival to be either a classic roadster with simple styling or a cruiser.
      Either way, the product is likely to adopt a lot of modern design elements and features like a typical retro-classic product. The image also represents what appears to be sound waves, indicating that the engine note is of importance.
      Approximate specifications
      If it is indeed a medium-displacement motorcycle, it is likely to be based on one of Honda’s internationally available platforms albeit with significant changes to make it suitable for our market. For example, the Honda Rebel 300 cruiser could be one of the viable donor products for Honda’s Royal Enfield rival. It is to be noted here that the Honda Rebel 300 has already been patented by the company in India.
      Honda Rebel Patented in India – Leak
      The new Honda bike is most likely to be equipped with a single-cylinder engine to keep the costs competitive. We expect the soon-to-be-launched product to stick with Honda’s tradition of prioritizing smooth and effortless performance rather than squeezing out maximum possible horse power.
      Market positioning
      HMSI’s attempt at the Indian mid-premium two wheeler segment has been rather uneventful. Though the CBR250R had a decent fan following, it never did set the sales chart on fire as there were more powerful alternatives in the same price range. We expect the new Honda bike to be localized heavily to arrive at an attractive price point. A sub-2 lakh price tag would make things pretty interesting. More

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      Honda Hornet 2.0 Test Ride Impression – Top Speed Detailed on Video

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      Hornet 2.0 is the latest entry to the 180-200cc category of sporty commuter motorcycles from Honda
      Honda Motorcycles and Scooters had a big revelation a few days ago in the form of Hornet 2.0 and the Japanese auto giant was able to surprise its audience rather pleasantly. Ever since its launch, people have been wondering what’s different and how is to ride it in comparison to its predecessor- the CB Hornet 160R.

      Obviously the Hornet 2.0 is a new and upgraded motorcycle from Hornet 160R which is powered by a new 184cc single-cylinder air-cooled fuel-injected engine. However, there are quite a few changes to make people sit up and take notice. In the video uploaded by Dino’s Vault on YouTube, the vlogger stresses the key highlight of the bike and gives us a detailed description of its riding and handling dynamics.
      Powertrain, Transmission Details
      As mentioned earlier, the new Hornet 2.0 is powered by a 184cc unit which churns out 17.3 PS of power @ 8500 rpm and maximum torque of 16.1 Nm @ 6000 rpm. Now, these figures are not exceptionally high but are decent enough for a sporty commuter in this segment. It is to be noted, that this is the same engine derived from the Hornet 190R which is sold in Indonesia. This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.
      [embedded content]
      The vlogger also highlights some of its interesting features. First, are the front suspension units from Showa which are chunky and covered in golden colour which surely gathers the attention of people around. Hornet 2.0 is the first bike in this segment to offer upside down USD forks at front. Exact specification of the forks is not revealed yet but gauging by the looks of it, they seem to be 41mm forks.
      The bike is much lighter than its compatriots at 142kg which gives it a high power-to-weight ratio and better fuel economy as well. Also, it gets an all-LED lighting setup including headlamp, indicators and the X-shaped tail lamp. Braking duties are carried out by petal discs of size 276mm and 220mm at front and rear respectively. It gets XtraMax tyres from Maxxis with profiles of 110/70 R17 and 140/70 R17 at both front and rear.
      Ride & Handling
      Now coming to its most crucial aspects- its ride and handling, from the video, it is suggested that the engine is tuned for better initial acceleration to bust out of traffic rather than wind-piercing speeds. The bike provides a healthy mid-range torque which gives you the thrust needed for a quick overtake. However, top-end performance is not very sporty. The vlogger manages to hit a peak speed of 125 kmph in his speed test.
      Top speed achieved = 125 kmph
      Another important highlight is the dual-throttle cable which provides quicker in-gear acceleration. However, it is advised to cruise at a speed at 90-95 kmph in the fifth gear to enjoy most of this engine. The engine is very refined and vibrations are negligible. As reported by the vlogger, on everyday use, this engine can return a fuel efficiency of 38-42 kmpl which is decent enough.
      Other details
      Braking is good too as it comes to a standstill from high speed in a composed manner although exact breaking distance is not measured in the video. However, it could have been better with dual-channel ABS. Gear ratios are not too short which means one can accelerate in the same gear for a longer duration.
      The seats are on the firmer side which takes a little time to get used to. It also gets a hazard light which could be very useful as it enhances the visibility in murky conditions. At Rs 1.26 lakh (ex-showroom), it seems Honda has pulled off a win here which could give its rivals in the sporty commuter segment a run for their money.
      Also Read – Honda Hornet vs TVS Apache vs Bajaj Pulsar More

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      Honda Activa helps HMSI post sales of over 4.28 lakh in Aug 2020

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      Honda Two Wheelers posted a marginal sales growth in Aug 2020
      Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India reports total sales decline of 1.9 percent at 4,43,969 units sold in August 2020, down from 452,551 units sold in August last year. Of this, domestic sales accounts for 4,28,231 units at sales growth of 0.6 percent, up from 4,25,664 units sold in August 2019. Exports fell 41 percent from 26,887 units in August 2019 to 15,738 units in August 2020.
      HMSI sales recovery

      While a YoY comparison is not a complete reflection of the tough times on hand, MoM comparison reflects a more positive outlook. In August, Honda’s domestic sales crossed 4.28 lakh units for the first time in FY21. This is attributed to improved supplies and higher utilization of production capacity. Over 90 percent of the HMSI network is back to business and the company has seen an increase in customer enquiries.
      Following complete lockdown since March end, manufacturers were able to restart production, sales and distribution in a phased manner since May 2020. As limitation continue to be lifted, and functionality reaches normalcy, HMSI sales is quickly gaining pace. Domestic sales was reported at 2.02 lakh units in June 2020, and 3.09 lakh units in July 2020. With operational ease, sales has improved by over a lakh units for the past three months.
      HMSI Sales Aug 2020
      Honda registered sales of four lakh plus units for the first time in FY’21 and the company’s domestic sales grew one per cent as well. In comparison to July 2020, Honda’s sales grew 38 per cent with 321,583 units sold. The other important thing to note is that Honda’s domestic sales have been growing by one lakh units for the third consecutive month. The company sold 2.02 lakh units domestically in June 2020, 3.09 lakh units in July 2020 and 4.28 lakh units in August 2020.
      The uptick in sales is expected to be further supported through the ongoing festive season. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our line-up of 14 models including our latest motorcycle Hornet 2.0 will excite new customers.” More than 50% of the total sales are thanks to the Activa – India’s best selling scooter.
      2020 Honda Hornet 2.0
      Newly launched Honda Hornet 2.0 is powered by a 184.4 cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine that returns max power of 17.03 bhp at 8,500 rpm and peak torque of 16.1 Nm at 6,000 rpm paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The CB Hornet 160R replacement, is Honda’s first motorcycle in the 180-200 cc segment. The move is part of HMSI’s portfolio expansion to cater to a wide range of customers. Honda CB Hornet 160R’s run came to an end when BS6 was mandated from April 1, 2020. Honda Hornet 2.0 motorcycles are scheduled to reach dealerships this week.
      While HMSI has a dominant city presence, owing to its every popular Activa range of scooters, the brand is reviewing rural demand that could be met by a motorcycle that sits below its entry level CD 110. In close competition with Hero, a meaningful entry in the mass market bike segment would boost HMSI sales. More

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      Honda Hornet BS6 vs BS4 – What’s New for the Rs 30k More you pay?

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      Honda has finally entered India’s 180-200cc motorcycle segment with the all-new Hornet 2.0 sports commuter
      Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has launched the all-new Hornet 2.0 sports commuter to mark its entry to the highly competitive 180-200cc motorcycle segment. Prices start at Rs 1.26 lakh ex-showroom. As the name suggests, the new Honda Hornet 2.0 is a successor or major upgrade to the old CB Hornet 160R that was phased out ahead of BS6 emission norms.

      In its last avatar, the BS4 Hornet started from just about Rs 85,000 for the non ABS variant and went all the way to Rs 95k for the single ABS variant. In other words, the new Hornet about Rs 30,000 more. Does the 2020MY Honda Hornet 2.0 offer enough to justify such a steep price jump (considering the segment and category)?
      Honda Hornet BS4
      The ‘Hornet’ nameplate has remained quite popular on the market even though the 160R was facing tight internal competition towards the end, from the Honda X-Blade (BS6 prices start at Rs 1.07 lakh ex-showroom). Let us take a brief look at the differences or improvements on the Hornet 2.0 over its lesser BS4 sibling, ‘Hornet 1.0’:
      Looks, dimensions & features
      The new Honda Hornet 2.0 appears sportier than the CB Hornet 160R, thanks to focused ergonomics, edgier body lines, split seats, bigger tyres, body-coloured engine cowl and more. The original Honda Hornet looked like a typical commuter motorcycle with a few additional bits for enhanced aesthetics.
      Honda Hornet BS6 vs BS4 – Old vs New Hornet
      In addition to this, Honda’s latest offering rides on 110/70R17 at the front as against 100/80R17 for its predecessor. Interestingly, rear-wheel size (140/70R17) and disc brakes (276mm and 220mm petal units with single-channel ABS) remain identical. Ground clearance stands at 167mm and 164mm, respectively. The Horner 2.0 is also heavier, at 142kg.
      Some of the main highlights of the all-new Honda Hornet 2.0 include golden USD forks, engine kill switch, hazard switch, ‘liquid crystal’ digital instrument console with added functionalities; key inlet on the fuel tank, among others. Features such as full-LED lighting, stubby exhaust, split 5-spoke alloy wheels, abstract graphics, black theme, etc., continue albeit differently.
      Engine & specs
      Powering the 2020MY Honda Hornet 2.0 is a BS6-compliant 184.4cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine. It makes 17bhp @ 8,500rpm and 16.1Nm @ 6,000rpm. The BS4-compliant CB Hornet 160R had a 162.71cc single-cylinder mill good for 14.9bhp @ 8,500rpm and 14.5Nm @ 6,500rpm. Both get a 5-speed transmission. In terms of output, the newer Honda Hornet avatar lags slightly behind popular names in the 180-200cc class.
      Description
      Hornet 2.0 BS6
      Hornet BS4
      Engine cc
      184.40 cc
      162.71
      FI
      yes
      yes
      Cooling
      air
      air
      Type
      SOHC
      SOHC
      Power PS
      17.26 PS @ 8500 rpm
      14 PS @ 8000 rpm
      Torque Nm
      16.1 Nm @ 6000 rpm
      14.7 Nm @ 5500 rpm
      Gearbox
      5-speed
      5 speed
      Weight
      142 kg
      140
      Mileage
      –
      45
      Fuel Tank
      12
      12
      F Brakes
      Disc 276mm
      Disc 276mm
      R Brakes
      Disc 220mm
      Disc 220mm
      ABS
      Single
      Single
      Front tyres
      110/70-17
      100/80-17
      Rear tyres
      140/70-17
      140/70-17
      Length mm
      2047
      2041
      Width mm
      783
      783
      Height mm
      1064
      1091
      Seat Ht mm
      –
      790
      Wheelbase mm
      1355
      1346
      Ground Clr. Mm
      167
      164
      Price (Ex-sh)
      Rs. 1.26 Lakh
      Rs. 85,000 – 95,000 More