Auto Expo 2018 will witness Hero Motocorp showcase its widest and most powerful bike lineup to dare. Hero MotoCorp will launch the new 125cc Super Splendor and the new Passion Pro and Passion XPro in January itself and get done with the boring stuff. Hero Motocorp at the 2018 Auto Expo will reveal some interesting plans for the next two years. The two-wheeler manufacturer will now concentrate on expanding its footprint in the premium segment of motorcycles.
Hero MotoCorp is expected to introduce production spec version of its much talked about Xtreme 200S which was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi, along with its 110cc scooter, the Dash and the dual-purpose XPulse concept. The HX250, however, will not be seen at the upcoming motoring event as Hero MotoCorp has shelved the plans to introduce the quarter-litre motorcycle.
Hero MotoCorp has aggressive plans for the Indian market over the next 24 months. In a recent interview, Dr Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer of Hero MotoCorp and Head of Hero MotoSports said, “Within the next two years, we will come up with a lot of new models. You can expect news on the scooters, you can expect news on the commuters between 110cc and 150cc and even beyond. So, I think we will keep you guys from the media quite busy for, let’s say, next 12-18 months.”
Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 200S
The new Xtreme 200 S is a muscular street fighter with enhanced performance and dynamics. The motorcycle comes equipped with a rear mono suspension instead of the conventional two-sided unit on previous variants. The motorcycle will also get modern safety features such as like ABS. The motorcycle also features styling elements like air vents in front cowl, tank-shroud and belly-pan. The new Xtreme 200 S is built on a diamond type chassis design and features front and rear disc brakes and LED lights and a rear mono suspension.
Mechanical updates are the primary talking point as this is the most powerful Xtreme variant till now. Powered by an air cooled, single cylinder, 4-stroke 200cc engine, the bike delivers a maximum power of 18.6 PS at 8500 rpm and maximum torque of 17.2 Nm at 6000 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed gear box.
Hero MotoCorp XPulse
Hero MotoCorp was first unveiled the Xpulse motorcycle at the EICMA in Milan, Italy. The motorcycle is currently in concept form and we’re yet to hear any details on the timeline of the arrival of the production-ready model. However, according to a report, a production model of the Hero XPulse will be launched sometime in mid-2018. The Xpulse Concept provides a glimpse into Hero’s plans to expand further into higher engine capacity segments. It will be an all-new motorcycle model and will be powered by an in-house developed, 200cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine.
The motorcycle is designed to be a proper off-roader which is evident in the way it has been designed. The tall-set front fender, larger front wheel and wire-spoke layout, knobby set of tyres, sump guard, long travel suspension and knuckle guards hint that the motorcycle is designed to take the beaten path. The concept motorcycle was also equipped with luggage panniers and a small windscreen which make it a proper tourer too.
Hero MotoCorp Dash 110cc Scooter
Hero Dash 110cc scooter has already gone into production and thus we expect to see the production spec model to be showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. To be positioned directly against the extremely popular Honda Activa, the Dash is powered by a 111cc, force air cooled, 4-stroke engine with 8.5PS of peak power @ 7500 rpm and 9.4 Nm of peak torque @ 5750 rpm.
With a ground clearance of 155mm and kerb weight of 110kg for the self start version of the scooter, the Hero Dash can carry 6 liters of fuel with a usable reserve of 1.8 liters. The long feature list includes :
- 12″ front wheel
- Telescopic hydraulic suspension upfront
- LED tail light
- Adjustable hydraulic rear shock absorber
- External Fuel lid to make re-fueling easy
- Service due
- Side stand indicator
- Mobile charging socket
- Digital-cum-analog meter console
- Dual tone mirrors
- Large, illuminated under seat storage space
- Integrated Braking System
- Tubeless tyres
Hero 125 cc Scooter
Hero MotoCorp may also introduce a premium 125cc scooter at the 2018 Auto Expo that would compete against the likes of the Honda Grazia and Suzuki Access 125. The new scooter will most likely be the Hero Dare which made its debut at the 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi.
The new scooter will be feature-rich and is expected to feature retro-styling. We expect the new scooter to come equipped with Auto Headlight On feature (it can be an all LED unit), digital console, Integrated Braking System, optional alloy wheels, optional disc brake upfront, external fuel filling, telescopic front suspension, USB charging port and boot light.
Performance numbers could be at par with its rivals and we expect the 124.6cc air cooled engine to deliver 9.38 bhp of peak power at 7500 rpm and 9.8 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm.
Hero XF3R Based Motorcycle
The two-wheeler brand may introduce the production version of the XF3R, the 300cc roadster that was showcased in the concept form at the 2016 Auto Expo. The production version will reportedly arrive at the 2018 iteration of the biyearly motoring event in Delhi while the launch will take place in FY2018-19. Previously, leaked patents indicated that the production spec motorcycle will retain the upside down front forks although the single-sided swingarm will most likely get replaced by a conventional, two-sided unit.
Mechanical details were been kept under wraps at the 2016 Auto Expo, and thus we really don’t have anything to share about the power output. The bike is meant to be powered by a 300cc liquid cooled single pot motor with DOHC setup and would come mated to a six-speed transmission.
As aforementioned, the HX250 project has been shelved while we do not expect to see the production spec version of the middleweight Hastur arriving this year either. However, we do hope to see interesting products like the Hero Zir joining the aforementioned products at the upcoming, 2018 Auto Expo.