Hero MotoCorp can’t tinker with the Impulse and will thus have to create a bike of its own. The company is planning to use platform engineering to spawn multiple motorcycles using the same underpinnings.
Platform sharing amongst multiple products is the norm nowadays, every manufacturer seems to be doing it, whether it’s 2 or 4-wheeler. Bajaj Auto is one of the experts of platform sharing, the company having used similar platforms on multiple bikes for both R&D savings and economies of scale. Now Hero MotoCorp plans to do something similar, the company’s MD, Mr. Pawan Munjal has made it clear that they are working on a platform strategy wherein multiple variants of each bike will be launched in different categories. So each platform will spawn at least four different variants.
Hero has developed a new platform for the upcoming HX250R motorcycle which will spawn three products in the near future. The sport bike is the HX250R itself while the same underpinnings will find its way on a street-fighter machine to take on KTM’s Duke. The world’s largest 2-wheeler maker will also use the HX250R platform to develop an off-roader like the Impulse. All the three products are set to be launched next year, priced between Rs. 1.5 to 2 lakhs. Powering these bikes will be the same 250cc, single-cylinder motor with power output like to differ.
Hero MotoCorp is well established in the commuter segment but wants to make a mark in the performance space. The HX250R is a very important product for the company and the Karizma maker is betting big on it. To be launched in early 2015, the Hero HX250R is developed in conjunction with EBR and will output around 31 PS of power. The company is working hard to bring the production motorcycle with the exact same design and specifications as the concept model which was unveiled earlier this year. The HX250R will rival the KTM RC 200.
