Katana Indian launch only possible after it gains upcoming emission compliance and passes company’s internal response survey…
Vespa and Suzuki were the only two major two-wheeler manufacturers which participated in the recently held Auto Expo in Noida. Suzuki kept on display all its Bharat Stage 6 compliant models for the domestic market, apart from the MotoGP editions of its Burgman Street and Gixxer SF 250.
However, one product that caught everyone’s fancy was the Katana – the liter class sports tourer from Suzuki. The old 1980-90s Katana brand was resurrected recently and this is one of the product that flaunts it on its chest.
Suzuki did not reveal anything about Katana’s plans for our market at the Expo. However, a new online report crediting Koichiro Hirao, MD at Suzuki India and Devashish Handa, VP at Suzuki India, has surfaced.
They have cleared that it will take time for the motorcycle to become Euro 5 compliant (which is roughly equal to BS6) without which it can obviously be not launched here. Once it gains the emission compliance, Suzuki will conduct surveys and gauge public response. Based on the outcome, the company will consider bringing the liter class half-faired beauty to India.
Katana Indian Launch
So, if everything falls into place as planned, the earliest we can expect Katana to come to our shores would be next year. But we urge Suzuki to consider launching it here as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down Units) like the GSX-S750, so that the pricing is competitive and more people are compelled to consider buying it.
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Katana is powered by the 999cc, inline four cylinder motor which produces 147 bhp of peak power at 10,000 rpm and 105 Nm of max torque at 9500 rpm. This is the same motor that propels the GSX-S1000F.
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Katana features unconventional styling and gets LED headlamps, coloured TFT screen, 43 mm upside down front forks, ABS, traction control etc.
Source – Autocar
