2013 Hero MotoCorp Karizma ZMR surfaces at Macau

The recently held Hero Global Sales and Marketing Conference at Macau saw the managing director of Hero MotoCorp, Mr Pawan Munjal, ride onto the stage on a facelifted 2013 Karizma ZMR. The motorcycle receives a makeover in terms of looks while Erik Buell Racing's (EBR) expertise has been used to boost the power and torque figures of the engine.

Hero MotoCorp holds a 49.2 % stake (worth 25 million USD) in Erik Buell Racing, a firm that it engaged last year in order to provide technology for Hero's new crop of motorcycles post the Hero-Honda split. The solitary image of the Karizma ZMR showcases a new front end, replete with a new headlamp and turn indicators. 

The fairing shows restyling while the seats feature a split design. The stylistic changes are carried over to the rear of the motorcycle, with a revised tail section, reminiscent of the Yamaha R15 2.0. The exhaust muffler of the 2013 Karizma ZMR facelift also seems to be revised.

Test mules of the new Karizma ZMR have been spotted doing the rounds in and around Gurgaon, and Hero MotoCorp is likely to launch this motorcycle in the coming weeks, in time for the festive season here. The 2013 Karizma ZMR facelift will continue to be Hero MotoCorp's flagship motorcycle offering, sitting at the very top of the company's two wheeler line up. 

The 2013 Karizma ZMR facelift will represent the first Hero MotoCorp motorcycle featuring engine technology independent of Honda's inputs. Apart from the Karizma ZMR, the Karizma-R is also likely to get a facelift in the form of new headlamps, restyled half-fairing, split seats and a revised tail section. It remains to be seen if the engine of the Karizma-R also gets more power and torque through the EBR treatment. 

In the coming months, expect a slew of Hero MotoCorp products to eschew Honda's engine technology in favour of that provided by a new crop of technology suppliers such as of Erik Buell Racing, Ricardo, Engines Engineering and AVL Austria. Also, Hero MotoCorp plans to introduce home grown technological innovations on its two wheeler range.