Quite some time after entering into a partnership with Erik Buell Racing of USA, Hero MotoCorp is finally seeing the benefits trickle down to its products. In an encouraging report, Economic Times states that Hero MotoCorp will be launching the new variants of its flagship model Karizma.
The most interesting revelation is that finally Karizma/ZMR will get more powerful engines. We hope it justifies this beautiful machine (Not the ZMR!)
This is probably the first product in which Erik Buell racing has played a definitive role. Quite understandably, they had been roped to add a facet of zest and raciness to the usual ricey and subdued models of Hero MotoCorp. We feel they will do a good enough job. However, there aren’t any concrete numbers regarding the increase in performance figures over the previous model.
Hero MotoCorp has been quite aggressive in inking pacts with overseas partner to fill the gaps that have been created by the absence of its erstwhile partner Honda. Not only EBR of USA, but they have also joined hands with Austria-based engine developer AVL to get over their incapability of smelting their own powerplants. They also have as an ally Engines Engineering of Italy to collaborate on the future product lineup.
Hero MotoCorp officials are confident that they can retain their numero uno position in India if they stick to their targets. They had picked up a 49.2 % stake in EBR for USD 25 million in July. The partnership with EBR is expected to spawn better bikes, and hopefully the new variant of Karizma is one of the many that are about to come.
As we were preparing this report, a snapshot of a red colored bike with black streaks has surfaced on the web. The ZMR branding with the PGM-Fi decals is prominently visible on the sporty full cowling. The bike does look better to us, especially when you compare it with the previous edition. The front-heavy look has been said goodbye to, and the rear tail has been given a much needed makeover. Split seats have been added, and it rises much higher than what it earlier did.
The photo appears to have been taken at a promotional event, as we can see the background showing the tagline “Global Heroes” and also the symbol for the 50-millionth unit celebration. Mr. Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, looks determined to maintain his company’s numero uno status as he strikes a pose on the bike. Despite the changes, some bits have stuck in. The penchant for the “Astra Gold” scheme stays right where it was, i.e. on the crankcase, front shocks, disc brake outer rims and the inverted gas-charged shocks. Oh, let us also mention that a monoshock is nowhere to be seen!!
*Current ZMR which looks disproportionate
The Karizma has been one of the defining bikes in the Indian landscape. The older Karizma R still sells, even though a full-faired, fuel-injected Karizma ZMR has made significant inroads. Karizma provides a comfy seating position along with a engine that can cruise at good enough speeds without needing to give the engine too much of gas. However, it fell short of the power figures when it came to comparisons with vehicles in the same category of displacement. Hopefully, the injection of EBR inputs should provide it a shot in the arm.
We don’t know for sure if it is the actual bike to roll out from Dharuhera or Neemrana or wherever Hero MotoCorp goes hammer and tongs. It cropped up on a Telugu Daily tabloid. All we can say at the moment is that you might love it, you might hate it but you can’t ignore it! In all probability, it is a temporary respite from the competition that Hero has been up against. It could carry the similar mill, albeit tweaked a little by EBR to whip up more power.
Let’s hope this spurns competition in the two-wheeler segment, and sends signs of ‘some’ aggression from Hero!
So, do you like the new ZMR?
Spyshot Courtesy : EENADU
