TVS radeon bike to be launched soon

After a rather silent 2011, TVS Motors is readying itself for an onslaught on the market with a renewed vigor. At the auto expo, the company announced plans to launch four new products this year. These will include a new 125cc executive commuter motorcycle in June 2012.

The Victor name is also destined to make a comeback, after a hiatus of four years, in the form of a 110cc motorcycle which is expected to go on sale on November or December this year. For the scooter segment, TVS will introduce a 125cc scooter to join the current range. The scooter is expected to go on sale in November.

The big news though is that TVS will introduce a hybrid scooter, Qube which was showcased at the last Auto Expo, in June 2012. An initial test launch of 200 scooters will take place initially. A full commercial launch is expected to take place in 2013. Although technical details are scarce, what we do know is that the Qube will be powered by a 100cc engine and Lithium-ion batteries.

The current cost per unit for the hybrid scooter stands between Rs 65,000 to Rs 70,000, which is as much as some motorcycles. With a test launch TVS wants to gauge how much more are buyers willing to pay for new technology over the current crop. The Qube is expected to return close to 70kmpl in city riding conditions and will also have reduced carbon emissions. The scooter will also have two ride modes, namely Economy and Power. As the names suggest, the engine and electric motor work in tandem to either provide the best economy or acceleration.