Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India is set to expand its product lineup with a new 160cc commuter motorcycle, making its debut on 2nd August 2023. Ahead of its official launch, the company has released a teaser providing a glimpse of the bike’s front and rear sections. The teaser carries the phrases “To Leave Behind” and “A Trail of Awe.” While limited information is available about the upcoming bike, it is likely to share some design elements and the engine with the Honda Unicorn.
The Honda Unicorn currently comes with a 162cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine producing 12.92PS and 14Nm of torque. The new Honda bike might receive a slight power boost. Expectations are that the bike could be equipped with a telescopic fork and monoshock suspension setup. Braking duties may be handled by disc brakes at the front and rear, with the option of a rear drum brake.
Regarding pricing, the new Honda bike is expected to be positioned above the Unicorn, which is priced at Rs 1.09 lakh (ex-showroom). It is estimated to replace the Honda XBlade and may be priced around Rs 1.12 lakh.
In other updates, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has confirmed the launch of two electric vehicles for global markets. Both electric two-wheelers will be based on the brand’s dedicated platform (codenamed Platform ‘E’) and are scheduled to hit the roads in the fiscal year 2024. The new architecture will support battery packs of different capacities and their installation. One of the upcoming Honda EVs will be a mid-range electric scooter with a fixed battery, possibly the Honda Active Electric, positioned competitively in terms of pricing.
The introduction of the second Honda EV, which will be for India, will mark the implementation of a swappable battery system. In addition to this initiative, the company has ambitious plans to establish charging stations across all its touchpoints. Some of these touchpoints will be transformed into Workshop ‘E,’ which will serve as setups for HEID (Honda Electric Innovative Device) battery exchange and mini battery exchange for swappable battery type, along with charging cables for fixed battery type.
