Here's what the coming year has in store for those looking to buy an affordable performance motorcycle or scooter under Rs 2.5 lakh

Honda's new high capacity scooter

Expected: Mid-2013, Price: Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh, Channel: Locally Manufactured

After having ruled the scooter segment for over a decade with the Activa and Dio pair and then having ventured into the mass market segment in India this year with the Dream Yuga, the big H is now aiming to bring bigger machines into India across the spectrum. While on the premium motorcycle side it has the new 500cc family waiting to be unleashed on the Indian market, at the lower end, Honda will be launching a premium scooter soon in India to cater to the the growing premium scooter brigade.

The new big premium scooter model will offer performance and elite features first time seen in the scooter class although the pricing will be a bit on the higher side. The scooter will be locally manufactured by Honda at its Indian operations to keep the costs under check.

Bajaj Pulsar 200NS*

Bajaj Pulsar 350

Expected: Late-2013, Price: Rs 1.5 - 1.7 lakh, Channel: Locally Manufactured

Bajaj Auto has been working quite hard on the new Pulsar range and the 200NS is just a tip of the iceberg. Next in line is the biggest Pulsar of them all, a 375cc variant loosely based on the KTM 390 motor but minus some goodies for an attractive pricing. Although it will take a bit of a while for the Pulsar 350 to be in the market one can expect it to hit the Bajaj Auto dealerships by end 2013.

Always the one to beat the competition on the pricing front, expect the bigger Pulsar also to be priced competitively in the range of Rs. 1.5 - 1.8 lakh (ex-showroom), which will be a killer pricing for a 375cc machine. There will also be quarter-faired and fully faired variants of the new Pulsar that will eventually make their appearance at the Bajaj Auto dealerships in due course of time.

*Image for representational purpose only