The Bajaj RE60 was originally scheduled for launch in October this year after receiving approval from the transport ministry to ply quadricycles on public roads.
Bajaj Auto was an optimistic lot when the two-wheeler maker first showcased the RE60 quadricycle at the 2012 Auto Expo. A potential replacement to three-wheelers, quadricycles received flak from a number of sources especially within the industry and took quite some time and patience to gain approval from the government. With the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) categorising it as a quadricycle and not a four-wheeler, the road seemed swift for Bajaj to finally launch the RE60 this October in India. However, the year is at completion and still there is no sign of the RE60 anywhere in the Pune based manufacturer’s stable.
While the launch is not in sight, our eagle eyed reader Sagar Patil managed to snap the RE60 doing runs on NH4 near Lonavala, Maharashtra. Losing all camouflage, the RE60 was visible in production avatar sporting black bumper and roof, while the interiors retain a basic layout. An important product for the automaker, quadricycles are categorised as commercial vehicles and will ply as people carriers on Indian roads. Quadricycles are also much safer compared to three-wheelers due to the monocoque body and come equipped with seat-belts as standard at the front and rear.
It was also speculated that Bajaj was looking to export the RE60 to markets like Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Bangladesh among others that showed potential for such a product. However, it now seems that the automaker has put the RE60 on a back burner for sometime and instead will concentrate on its two-wheeler offerings with a host of launches planned in the coming year including the Pulsar 200 SS, 160 NS, new Discover 125 as well as an updated Platina commuter. The company will also launch the new flagship Pulsar 400 SS and CS by the end of 2015.
A quick recap on the Bajaj RE60’s specifications. The model is powered by a 216cc, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with triple-spark ignition technology that produces 20 BHP of power, paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The quadricycle claims a fuel efficiency of 35 km/l, while CO2 emissions are restricted to 60 g/km. Bajaj will also add LPG and CNG fuel options to the RE60 at the time of launch, while prices are expected to start around Rs. 1.95 lakhs (ex-showroom).
