Honda is planning to launch its two premium scooters ADV350 and Vario 160 in India
Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) has filed a patent for the luxury scooters ADV 350 and Vario 160. Both scooters are already on the market in other countries, and Honda is exploring the possibility of bringing them to the United States.
- Honda ADV350 is a 330cc maxi scooter producing 29 bhp power.
- The Vario 160 is a premium 156.9cc scooter with 15.4 bhp power.
However, Honda is famous for filing several patents to protect its wares in the future, as it did with the Scoopy scooter, the Grom compact bike, the NT1100 touring motorcycle, and most recently, the Yu-Go electric scooter and these latest. The patent may have been filed for the same purpose.
Honda ADV 350 (Feature, specification, price)
The Honda ADV 350 is an off-road maxi-scooter, which is powered by a 330cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 29 bhp power and 31.5 Nm torque. The Honda ADV350 scooter gets USD forks at the front, dual shock absorbers at the back, 15-inch front wheel, 14-inch rear wheel, and front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS.
The price of a Honda ADV350 in the UK is 5,699 euros (about Rs 5.50 lakh), which is quite expensive. However, given the unexpected popularity of the expensive BMW C400 GT maxi-scooter in India (Rs 10.40 lakh, ex-showroom), Honda may opt to launch the ADV 350 in India as well. It remains to be seen whether will be assembled locally or through the CBU method.
The only maxi-scooter that can compete with the ADV 350 right now is the recently launched Keeway Vieste 300, priced at Rs 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom). On the other hand, if Honda launches the ADV350 in India, it will become more expensive.
Honda Vario 160 (Feature, specification, price)
The Vario 160 is another premium model from Honda Bikes in India. Compared to the ADV350, this scooter can be more suitable in the Indian market. If launched in India, the Vario 160 will compete with luxury scooters like the popular Yamaha Aerox 155 and Aprilia SXR 160. The Vario 160 is powered by a 156.9cc engine that generates 15.4bhp power and 13.8Nm torque. Engine power is the same as the Aerox 155 which makes 15 bhp and 13.9Nm of output.
Honda will have to manufacture the Vario 160 domestically, as Yamaha did with the Aerox if it wants to beat the pricing and sales of the Aerox 155. In Indonesia, the Vario 160 is currently available at a starting of IDR 26,339,000. (about Rs 1.41 lakh).
