Honda to launch new Fireblade in India in 2012

The new Fireblade will be in Honda showrooms in India, in 2012

Earlier this week, Honda released the first official photographs and details of the new, 2012-spec CBR1000RR Fireblade, the company’s high-performance litre-class superbike that’s widely regarded as one of the best sportsbikes in the business. The current Fireblade, which was launched in India a few years ago and which was priced at around Rs 12.50 lakh (ex-showroom), will be phased out and will be replaced with the 2012 model early next year.

HMSI will showcase the new CBR1000RR Fireblade at the Auto Expo in Delhi, in January next year. The bike, which celebrates 20 years of the Fireblade – the first one was launched back in 1992 – builds on the original model’s strengths, taking performance to even higher levels. The new Fireblade features revised, sharper styling, new suspension components, lighter wheels, retuned fuel-injection system, uprated brakes and a revised four-cylinder engine that now pumps out a phenomenal 175 horsepower and 112Nm of torque. On a bike that weighs 199 kilos, those power and torque numbers translate into near-unbelievable performance on the street.

‘The new Fireblade allows all supersports bike lovers, including the most experienced, to savour the joy of owning a CBR1000RR. The bike feels sportier than ever before and is a joy to ride, whether on winding roads or at a circuit,’ says Hirofumi Fukunaga, Large Project Leader for the 2012 CBR1000RR. And that may well be the truth. Among other things, the new Fireblade features completely revised, fully adjustable suspension for vastly improved high-speed handling. There’s the 43mm inverted ‘big piston’ telescopic forks at the front and double-tube rear suspension at the back, which Honda claims offers improved damping, increased tyre grip and better stability under braking.

Apart from more power and better handling, the new CBR1000RR is also safer – it features the latest anti-lock brakes (ABS), which allow the rider to brake very hard even on wet, slippery surfaces without the fear of locking up the wheels. And then there’s an electronic steering damper, which offers the best of both worlds – light, responsive steering at low speeds, combined with perfect stability at very high speeds. Honda engineers have also paid special attention to usability – there is no dearth of power with litre-class superbikes, but making all that power usable is where the challenge is. And Honda’s Programmed Dual Sequential Fuel Injection system (PGM-DSFI), which has been optimised for smooth, linear power delivery at low speeds, makes sure that things never get out of hand on this lightweight, hugely powerful motorcycle.

We expect HMSI to showcase the new Fireblade at the Auto Expo in Delhi, in January next year, and the bike should be available in Honda showrooms in India shortly thereafter, at a price of about Rs 13-14 lakh. Yes, that’s a lot of money and, yes, this is a very powerful, very high-performance superbike that’s not meant for novice riders. But for those who know and love big, fast bikes – and have the financial wherewithal to be able to afford one – the new Fireblade will be the must-have garage accessory in 2012.

McLaren Automotive comes to Asia, could be in India by 2013-14

Heart set on getting a McLaren supercar? Soon, soon...

McLaren Automotive, the UK-based company responsible for the greatest supercar of all time – the McLaren F1, which was launched in the 1990s – has now announced plans to enter the Asia-Pacific region, and we’re sure India will be an important part of their future plans. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, McLaren Automotive Asia Pte Ltd., will be based in Singapore.

‘2011 is a landmark year for McLaren. This is an exciting new chapter in our history, and success in the Asia Pacific region is vital to our ambitions,’ says Ron Dennis, Executive Chairman, McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group. The group currently has just one car in its lineup – the MP4-12C – a modern, lightweight and high-tech supercar that is not afraid of taking on any Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche. McLaren Automotive Asia Pte Ltd., which will be responsible for all of McLaren’s operations in Asia, will handle the import and distribution of the company’s cars and will also take care of functions like logistics, marketing and technical support.

There is a small, but rapidly growing, niche for high-performance sports cars and supercars in India. Established European marques already have a presence here and companies like Ferrari and Porsche have gone on record saying that they anticipate strong growth in the Indian market in the mid- to long-term future. Things may be a bit more tough for a small company like McLaren, which is certainly not as well known as a lot of the bigger European brands. ‘Future expansion in Asia is anticipated, but will be conservative and strategic, aimed at supporting excellent returns for retail partners,’ says a release from McLaren. The company makes it clear that it will first set up and expand operations in more affluent markets like Singapore and China, and a foray into the Indian market might only happen by 2013-14.

‘For our new automotive business, the Asia-Pacific region shows huge potential – both economically and demographically. GDP annual growth rates are expected to outperform all other global regions, whilst the growth in numbers of high net worth individuals in the region is world-leading, especially as that growth is driven by younger entrepreneurs who are keen to invest in luxury products – sports and cars are of huge interest, putting McLaren front of mind,’ says Ron Dennis.

It might take a year or two, but with McLaren having set up base in Singapore, we believe they will be India sooner rather than later. So if you have your heart – and bank account – set on owning a MP4-12C, you could fully expect to walk into a McLaren showroom in Delhi or Mumbai sometime in the near future and fulfil your need for speed.

Skoda Citigo coming to India in 2012

Skoda's new small car, the Citigo will be launched in India in 2012

Skoda has released the first official photographs of its brand-new small car, the Citigo, which will be launched in Europe early next year. A five-door version of the Citigo will also be launched in India in 2012. ‘The Citigo is one of the pillars of our growth strategy. It paves the way for tremendous opportunities in a new segment,’ says Skoda Board Chairman, Dr H C Winfried Vahland. ‘Despite its small size, it offers ample interior space and is agile and frugal. Put simply, the car offers all of Skoda’s values in a compact package and fits perfectly with our aims,’ he adds.

The Citigo will be positioned at a notch below the Fabia hatchback and is likely to be priced at around Rs four lakh in India. ‘The demand for small cars with low fuel consumption, at a favourable price and with reasonable operating costs, is growing. The Citigo is a reaction to this trend,’ says Dr Vahland. According to Skoda, the Citigo has been engineered to provide ample space for four occupants and while its prime focus is urban travel, the car will be powerful and comfortable enough for longer journeys as well.

Skoda says the Citigo is a ‘clever’ small car, with interiors that make life comfortable for its owner. Inside the car, Skoda has provided numerous storage compartments, a portable and easy-to-use navigation system, Bluetooth compatibility and an integrated, high-quality entertainment system. And with multiple airbags and a new, laser sensor-based brake assistance system that activates automatically when it detects an impending collision, the Citigo has also been engineered to be a very safe car.

The Citigo will be fitted with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that, depending on state of tune, produces 60-75 horsepower. The engine, mated to a five-speed manual transmission, has been designed for optimum efficiency and can deliver as much as 28km/l in terms of fuel economy – something that small car buyers in India will definitely appreciate. In terms of performance too, the Citigo is no slouch – it’s capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h in about 13 seconds and can hit a top speed of 160km/h.

With a host of Asian and European car manufacturers launching new small cars in India, the competition for the Skoda Citigo will definitely be tough but going by the car’s specs, it seems it has what it will take to be successful in a demanding market like ours.