Bajaj-KTM, on the tenth anniversary of their alliance, revealed plans to bring Husqvarna motorcycles to India in 2018.
Husqvarna is amongst the oldest motorcycle brands in the world. It was acquired by KTM recently and has become a globally renowned brand since its takeover. In India, the Bajaj KTM partnership has been successful, to say the least. KTM’s Duke and RC series have been the first choice of performance enthusiasts in our country. Bajaj plans to introduce ‘401’ series of Husqvarna motorcycles in India. Bajaj will launch the Husqvarna brand in 2018. Also, manufacturing will be carried out in Bajaj’s Chakan production facility. For this purpose, Bajaj plans to double the plant’s production capacity to 2 lakh units per year.
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 are based on the 2017 KTM Duke. They share the frame, engine and brake components with the Duke 390. The Vitpilen 401 is a cafe-racer by design and carries the flair of a retro motorcycle very well. Aimed at urban commuting, the Vitpilen 401 comes with advanced features such as USD forks and Bosch dual-channel ABS.
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, on the other hand, carries a scrambler look and comes with an engine guard, dual purpose tyres and a tank-mounted bag carrier. It shares the engine and brake components with the Duke 390 and comes with similar features as well. Both the bikes will be powered by a single-cylinder 373.2cc engine that churns out 43 BHP of power and 37 NM of torque. The liquid-cooled powertrain is matched to a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch, the gear ratios being tuned for dramatic acceleration off the line.
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, as well as the Svartpilen 401, will be priced around Rs. 3 lakhs. Yet, the two models will have a vastly different set of audience which is beneficial for the brand. KTM will position the two offerings above its naked motorcycle Duke 390 as Husqvarna being a foreign brand comes associated with a premium image. It will compete against the KTM Duke 390 and the yet-to-be-launched BMW G310R. The introduction of advanced motorcycles and shifting of manufacturing process to India is a step towards the right direction.
Svartpilen 401 Price
– Bajaj KTM partnership to bring Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 in 2018
– Chakan plant’s annual capacity to be increased to 2 lakh units
– Engine, frame and brake components are shared with the KTM Duke 390
– Price to be kept around Rs. 3 lakhs for both models
