Honda gears up to launch exciting lineup of upcoming two-wheelers, including electric scooters, for the Indian market
2 min read 31 May 2023, 09:10 AM ISTHonda plans to launch a 350cc cruiser bike to rival Royal Enfield's Meteor 350, two electric scooters, a 125cc scooter, and a 160cc motorcycle in India.
PremiumHonda has ambitious plans for the future with a lineup of upcoming models, especially in India. Notably, the company unveiled several electric scooters along with other models, specifically tailored for the Indian market. Here are some of the upcoming expected two-wheelers from Honda.
350cc cruiser bike
In the realm of the CB350 platform, Honda currently offers the H'ness retro motorcycle and the CB350RS with a cafe racer-inspired style. These bikes allow Honda to compete against the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Hunter 350. However, they lack a direct competitor to the Meteor 350 from Royal Enfield. However, this situation might change in the near future.
According to Autocar India, Honda has announced its intention to launch a new 350cc motorcycle by Diwali this year, and it is highly likely that this upcoming addition will be a cruiser designed to rival the Meteor. Anticipate the utilization of the same 348cc long-stroke single-cylinder engine found in the existing CB350 models, albeit with potential modifications. While the current engine may not be inherently known for its bottom-end power, a characteristic typically sought after in cruisers, Honda could potentially fine-tune the gearing and sprocketing to compensate for this.
Two electric scooters
As per media reports, in the upcoming fiscal year 2024, Honda will venture into the expanding electric two-wheeler market with the introduction of two new electric scooters. These scooters will vary in terms of their powertrain configuration. The first model will feature a fixed battery pack, expected to be positioned in the floorboard based on patent drawings discovered. On the other hand, the second model will incorporate a removable battery pack. It is likely that this scooter will utilize the Honda Mobile Power Pack battery, which is gradually being deployed at swapping stations across the country.
There is a possibility that Honda may capitalize on the strong brand recognition of the Activa and potentially name either one or both of these scooters as the Activa electric or e-Activa. A similar approach has been taken by Suzuki with their recently unveiled e-Burgman electric scooter.
125cc scooter and 160cc bike
Honda has additional plans in the realm of petrol-powered vehicles for the current fiscal year. Set for FY24 are the launch of a new 125cc scooter and a 160cc motorcycle. The 125cc scooter is expected to share its framework with the Activa 125, but with a sportier design aimed at competing against models such as the TVS NTorq and Suzuki Avenis. As for the 160cc motorcycle, it is speculated to utilize the engine from the X-blade and Unicorn models. However, there are no clear indications regarding the direction Honda will take with this bike. It is possible that we might see an adventure-oriented guise similar to what Honda has done with the CB200X, which is based on the Hornet 2.0.
