Scooters for 2014

With the two-wheeler segment witnessing a downfall in terms of sales, one segment which has constantly racked up the sales and has shown no signs of slowdown is the scooter segment. Such has been the tremendous rise of the scooter segment in the past three years that every two-wheeler manufacturer in the country except Bajaj is concentrating on developing and adding new products. The main reason for the success of scooters is their versatility and ease of use. The rider doesn’t have to worry about changing gears, height of the rider doesn’t matter as one can easily ingress and egress and it can be effortlessly ridden in traffic due to its nimble handling. All these benefits of the scooter has attracted the women buyers who weren’t too enthusiastic on riding motorcycles as the general conscience is that it is more suited to males. 2014 wouldn’t be any different as every manufacturer would try to boost their sales by introducing new products in its scooter portfolio and we list down few of the automatic scooters which are destined to enter our market next year.

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Honda Activa 125:

Expected Launch: Mid 2014

Expected Price: Rs 50,000 to 55,000

The Activa needs no introduction in the automatic scooter segment and it has ruled this spectrum ever since its debut and registers close to 50 per cent of the entire scooter sale in our country. In fact it was the Activa which revived the scooter market as a whole when the buyers were shifting their attention to motorcycles and recently it even overtook the Hero Splendor as the largest selling two-wheeler in the country. As the name suggests we expect that Honda would be adding a more powerful 125cc engine producing around 8.5-9PS to its bread and butter scooter, the engine essentially would be bored out version of its current air-cooled, 109.2cc powerplant. We also feel that Honda would endow this mill with its patented HET (Honda Eco Technology). This move seems logical for Honda as its rivals like the Suzuki Acess 125 and the Yamaha Ray-series are powered by 125cc engines and though the current engine has apt power still anyways a more powerful engine never hurts.

TVS Qube 

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 70,000 to 75,000

TVS had first showcased the Qube hybrid scooter at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo and had announced that it would be test launched in the Indian to measure customer feedback by the end of 2012 but nothing hasn’t materialised since then. But it seems that the Hosur based two-wheeler manufacturer is all set to launch it by early 2014. The Qube will be the first scooter to be launched in our country with hybrid drive. Powering the hybrid offering will be a 100cc combustion engine along with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. 

The TVS Qube also comes with two riding modes called, ‘Hybrid Economy Mode’ and Hybrid Power Mode’. In economy mode the engine and electric motor run as per a programmed mode to optimise fuel economy, while the power mode engages both the electric motor and the engine for quicker acceleration. Other novel features the Qube boasts include regenerative braking which charges the batteries while braking and a start-stop system which come as standard. TVS claims that it emissions would be reduced by 35 per cent and that bit would have an efficiency figure of 70kmpl. The Qube has to be among the most awaited scooter to be launched in the recent past as with fuel prices constantly it comes as a good and clean alternative. 

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Note: Pic for representation only

TVS Scooty Zest

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 43,000 to 45,000

TVS has a wide range of products in the scooter market and recently launched the Jupiter with which it aims directly at the Activa. For 2014, the Hosur based two-wheeler manufacturer would be launching the Scooty Zest. The new offering will be a female oriented automatic scooter with a stylish design language to appeal to the young female buyers with added features. It seems there would be no changes made on the mechanical front and it would be powered by the same 88cc, air-cooled engine producing 5PS of power and 5.8Nm of torque. The Zest would be the flagship offering in the Scooty range and would be pitched directly against the Honda Activa-i.

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Hero Pleasure

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 43,000 to 45,000

The country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp hasn’t been able to ape the success it achieved with motorcycles when it comes to scooter. Currently it has two products in its scooter portfolio and for 2014 it plans to update the Pleasure with a slew of features. The Pleasure would get endowed with linked brakes, which Hero terms as Integrated Braking System (IBS) and is similar to Honda’s Combi Braking System (CBS). The system activates both the front and rear brakes simultaneously thereby improving the braking capacity of the scooter. Other updates include mobile charging point, lockable glove box, a light for the underseat storage compartment, combination ignition lock and an indicator for an open seat and side stand. The Maestro would also get updated with Integrated Braking System (IBS). 

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Yamaha uni-sex scooter

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 48,000 to 50,000

After making a successful entry in the scooter market with the Ray and Ray-Z, Yamaha Motor India is planning to expand its scooter portfolio by launching a new uni-sex scooter in the up-coming year. The Ray was the company’s first scooter offering for the Indian market and was targeted at female consumers while the Ray-Z which was introduced earlier this year is a more male centric model. With this new offering Yamaha plans to tap a larger consumer base and the new scooter would be directly pitched against the segment leader Honda Activa. Yamaha hasn’t announced any details on the scooter but we feel that it would be showcased at the up-coming 2014 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The scooter would be feature a minor exterior alterations while no changes would be made on the mechanical front and it would be powered by the same 113cc mill as found on the Ray and Ray-Z producing 7.1PS of power and 8.1Nm of torque. 

Vespa S

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 73,000 to 75,000

Italian two-wheeler manufacturer Piaggio would be launching a sportier variant of the Vespa VX titled Vespa S in 2014. The major distinctive visual feature of the Vespa S is its 1970s-styled square headlights in contrast to the round one found on the standard Vespa and VX. To distinguish the scooter further, the mudguard on the scooter has been cut back further to reveal more of the front suspension and the 5-spoke alloys. Also the seat profile has been changed. The instrument cluster has been re-designed to add to its retro charm and sports an analogue speedometer and fuel gauge, digital clock and different tell-tale lights. No changes are expected on the mechanical front and the Vespa S would be powered by the same engine as on the standard Vespa. The 125cc, 4-stroke, 3-valve engine produces 10.06PS @ 7,500rpm and a torque figure of 10.6Nm @ 6,000rpm and would be mated to a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) automatic transmission. The Vespa S would command a premium over the VX and hence it won't be cheap by any means.

Vespa 946

Expected Launch: Early 2014

Expected Price: Rs 2 to 3 lakh

The 946 has to be one of the most radical scooters to be ever put to production and its retro-futuristic design gives an indication to the styling cues of future generation Vespas. The major design highlights of the 946 is its floating saddle which is hinged on a cast aluminium support, full LED headlamp and taillight and LCD instrumentation cluster. The Vespa 946 is offered in two engine options, a 125cc (11.9PS and 10.3Nm of torque) and 150cc (13.2PS of power and a torque figure of 12.6Nm) mill respectively, both of which employ 3-valves and fuel injection. 

Piaggio has loaded the 946 with electronic goodies like disc brakes at the front and rear with ABS (anti-lock braking system) and ASR (anti-slip regulator) Traction Control, which, with the aid of electronic system, helps the rear tyre from slipping. The 946 will be a premium scooter hence Piaggio wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about it sales figure and is a model to showcase its design and engineering skills to the Indian consumers and to increase brand awareness of the Vespa marque in our country.