Although deliveries started more than two months back, Hero MotoCorp has now announced that the Splendor iSmart has been launched in the Indian market. The automaker calls the i3S technology as game changing, which basically is a start-stop system that improves the fuel efficiency of the bike by shutting down the engine when you come to a halt. i3S stands for Idle Stop and Start System with the Splendor iSmart being the first motorcycle in the world to get this technology. Hero MotoCorp has priced the Splendor iSmart at Rs. 47,250/- (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the price of the motorcycle is Rs. 49,967/- in Mumbai (ex-showroom).
Read The Hero Splendor iSmart Review
The Hero Splendor iSmart is powered by a 100cc, air-cooled engine. This single-cylinder mill generates 7.8 PS of power at 7500 RPM and 8.04 Nm of torque at 4500 RPM. The bike comes with blackened alloy wheels, body graphics which proudly flaunt the i3S name and a new instrument cluster which has a side stand warning. Hero hasn’t revealed the mileage of the Splendor iSmart but if driven in congested traffic, the i3S technology will surely save some fuel (being upto 10% more efficient than the regular model). This commuter motorcycle is offered in four colours namely blue, red, green and grey (it also gets what Hero calls ‘techno graphics’).
The Hero Splendor iSmart will be aggressively marketed and a new multi-media campaign is under the works. The tagline is “Ek Smart Soch”. Hero has applied for a patent for the i3S technology which will find its way into other Hero bikes in the near future. India’s largest 2-wheeler manufacturer has turned aggressive and will launch four more products in the month of March, namely the new Karizma R, Karizma ZMR, Pleasure and Xtreme. Hero MotoCorp showcased a range of products at the 2014 Auto Expo, all of which will gradually hit the market in the next three years.
