Hero MotoCorp unveils five new products

In a bid to keep its position as leader in the Indian two-wheeler market, Hero MotoCorp is gearing up to launch a product offensive. The manufacturer has unveiled five new products including two motorcycles, two scooters and a diesel concept bike.

The Hero HX250R is a 250 cc motorcycle developed using inputs from Eric Buell Racing, AVL (Austria) and Engines Engineering. It is powered by a 249 cc, single-cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled engine that puts out 31 PS. The bike has a 6-speed transmission, single disc brakes on both wheels with ABS and an underseat exhaust. There is a telescopic, hydraulic fork suspension at the front and a monoshock at the rear. The bike weighs 139 kg. Hero is expected to launch the HX250R by the end of 2014, albeit with a different name.

The second motorcycle to be unveiled was a 'Sports' variant of the 150 cc Xtreme. The 149.2 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine of the bike has been tweaked to produce 15.2 PS a slight gain over the 14.4 PS of the regular Xtreme. Other specifications of the bike appear to have remained unchanged. The Xtreme Sports is likely to be launched in a couple of months.

Coming to the scooters, the Hero Dash sports a 111 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, producing 8.5 PS and 9.4 Nm of torque. The scooter has a 6-litre fuel tank and a key-operated external fuel lid. Hero has provided a telescopic front suspension, and drum brakes on the Dash. The scooter weighs 110 kg. It is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2014.

Hero also showed the Leap Hybrid scooter, which features an 8 kW (10.7 bhp) electric traction motor, a lithium-ion battery and an on-board generator, which can extend its range without having to stop charge the battery using a plug-in system. This generator is powered by a 124 cc, petrol engine. The scooter comes with a 3-litre fuel tank. The Leap is said to have a combined range of 340 km. Stopping power comes from a 240 mm disc brake and a 130 mm on the front and rear wheels respectively. The Leap weighs 140 kg.

The Hero RNT diesel concept bike was also unveiled. It uses a 150 cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled , direct-injection, diesel engine that churns out 13.5 PS and 35 Nm of torque. A 6-speed transmission sends this power to the rear wheel. The bike gets a telescopic front fork suspension and adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear. The bike comes with disc brakes on both wheels and a 6-litre fuel tank and weighs 136 kg. The RNT is not likely to be launched before 2015.

Hero MotoCorp has revealed that it will unveil more models at the 2014 Auto Expo.

Image courtesy: Motorbeam