Royal Enfield has big plans to come out guns blazing once the pandemic dies down. In a webinar, the company’s Head of Product Development, Simon Warburton, has revealed that the brand has 14 new models under consideration. The projects were proposed by Mark Wells, Royal Enfield’s Head of Product Strategy, over the course of last year.
Like other auto manufacturers, Royal Enfield too has been reeling under the effect of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, it sold only 91 units in April 2020. But Royal Enfield’s Managing Director Sidhartha Lal is unfazed by the recent developments. He said, “We've had zero debt for about 14 years and it helps us in times of crisis and means we do not need to react in a knee-jerk way or in a manner which will affect our long-term success. If we have a few months of zero revenue, which is possibly the case right now; it's okay, we will survive. We're not hand to mouth anymore, like we were a decade ago, so we can invest tremendously in the future.”
So, out of the 14 proposed models, we already know a few have been spotted testing on public roads. Here’s our analysis of what Royal Enfield might bring in the future:
Production version of the Concept KX:
The Royal Enfield Concept KX came as a pleasant surprise when it was unveiled at the 2018 EICMA show. While there has been no solid indication of a production version being in the pipeline, it makes good business sense. It will help the brand go beyond the 650cc threshold, into bigger 800+cc territories that are currently dominated by the likes of Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle. It will also help Royal Enfield get a greater grasp over other developed markets where motorcycles of this category enjoy healthy sales.
New variants of the Royal Enfield 650 twins:
Current-gen 650 twins shown for representation
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 are pretty old-school when it comes to the design. We could expect Royal Enfield to modernise these two bikes by introducing two variants. A street-oriented variant of the Royal Enfield Interceptor, perhaps with alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, and slightly different ergonomics would be ideal for those who want a neo-retro motorcycle designed for the urban jungle.
On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 variant could be sportier and is likely to feature better tyres for improved cornering confidence and perhaps a proper headlight fairing with standard bar-end mirrors to complete the cafe racer look.
Hardcore Himalayan:
BS6-compliant Himalayan shown for representation
Royal Enfield is likely to bring out a hardcore version of the Himalayan in the near future. It could pack a rebored version of the existing powertrain, perhaps a 450cc unit. The motorcycle is likely to be lighter than the existing Himalayan, thus greatly improving its offroad dynamics. In December 2019, we had reported that the brand had trademarked the name ‘Sherpa’. This moniker seems apt for something that could be even more capable than the regular Himalayan.
Meteor 350 range:
The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is likely to be the first motorcycle to be launched post lockdown. The online configurator of this motorcycle leaked online recently, hinting at the arrival of another variant. According to the leaked pictures, the bike bore the suffix ‘Fireball’ which is likely to be the name of a different variant. In fact, the model shown in the configurator featured wider handlebars compared to the one that was spied in the flesh recently.
Roadster range:
A test mule of what’s likely to be called the Royal Enfield Roadster was spotted testing in February. Going by the spy shots, it is likely to be a street-friendly motorcycle sporting the brand’s all-new engine from the J-platform. It will be the ideal choice for those who find the Meteor a bit too laidback and the new-generation Classic 350 a tad too old-school. You can read more about the bike’s estimated launch timeline and other details here.
Next-generation Classic 350 range:
The next-generation Classic 350 has been spied numerous times on the roads. This is likely to be the second model, after the Meteor 350, which might be launched in India. It will serve as a more premium, more feature-laden alternative to the existing Royal Enfield Classic 350 BS6 range. Apart from the all-new powertrain and revised underpinnings, the motorcycle will also pack a revised switchgear layout derived from the Concept KX. If you wish to know the more intricate details of this motorcycle, check this out. Since Royal Enfield has had the habit of introducing the Classic range in different colour schemes and slightly different features (like alloy wheels and tubeless tyres), expect Royal Enfield to follow the same tradition in the next-generation Classic range as well.
250cc motorcycle range:
In 2019, rumours were running rife about Royal Enfield working on a 250cc motorcycle. Going by how times are changing and considering how the 250cc segment is currently populated by entrants like the Bajaj Dominar 250, Husqvarna Vitpilen 250, Svartpilen 250, and the upcoming Yamaha FZ25 BS6 range, we wouldn’t be surprised if Royal Enfield tries to cash in on this segment.
Currently, the most affordable bike under the brand’s lineup, the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 starts from Rs 1.21 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). With the 250cc range, Royal Enfield will have a good base in the sub-one lakh rupee category. The 250cc range is expected to be lighter than traditional Royal Enfields and this could attract a wider range of audiences.
Royal Enfield could offer this motorcycle in multiple variants to cater to a wider spectrum of riders. One could be an old-school Bullet-themed motorcycle and another variant could be a street-oriented roadster. To compete with the entry-level cruiser segment’s Bajaj Avenger 220 range and the Suzuki Intruder, Royal Enfield could also offer a budget cruiser with the quarter-litre powertrain.
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