Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Sunday, Aug 25, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Sunday, Aug 25, 2002 |
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Investment World
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Investments Markets - Investments Columns - Auto Focus Get set with Honda's motoscooter Dio S. Muralidhar
AFTER launching the Honda Activa, a runaway success, about a year back, Honda's Indian outfit is set to launch what it calls, a `motoscooter'. The new two-wheeler, called the Dio, will incorporate the aggressive form of a motorcycle with the comfort and convenience of a scooter. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India is expected to commercially launch the Dio on September 10. The scooter will be initially available exclusively in the four southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and later elsewhere. Industry sources feel that it would be priced around Rs 37,000. The company has managed to launch a new vehicle, without much internal changes to its first offering the Activa. The Dio has enough external features, distinguishing it from the Activa, to offer a refreshing new perspective to the potential two-wheeler buyer. With the Activa, Honda wanted to make a statement about its ability to manufacture a no-frills, value-for-money scooter. With the Dio, the company is hoping to showcase its ability to manufacture a stylish, young-at-heart scooter, while still retaining its value-for-money equation. Though Honda claims that the Dio is the country's first motoscooter and that it is different from the other two-wheelers currently on the road, the Dio visually appears to be similar in shape and design to the Bajaj Safire and the Kinetic Marvel. However, the slightly raised riding position, the new multi-reflector, crystal-like headlamp and indicators, and the sleek wedge-shaped design give the Dio distinctive looks. In keeping with its focus for the Dio, Honda has added a number of important and interesting features to the new bike. These will enable the vehicle user, a majority of whom the company expects to be in their 20s and early 30s, to ride the Dio with greater ease and safety. They include rear and front weight distribution that ensures stable riding and better balance during acceleration and braking and a longer seat to provide ample space and comfort for both the rider and the pillion rider. Further, the centre stand of the Dio requires minimal force to use, making it particularly convenient to handle for women. Housed on a rigid under-bone frame, the Dio has been designed for stability at high speeds. It has also been conceived keeping in mind the local road conditions and the specific requirements of users. To this end, a frame under cover protects the lower parts of the Dio from the road surface and loose stones, an optional sari step to suit the requirements of Indian women is being offered, long stroke front suspension to improve ride comfort, bigger 130 mm diameter drum brakes for better braking performance and the multi-reflector light, to increase brightness for greater visibility. Some of the features of the Dio, which have been retained from Honda's first offering, the Activa are the 102cc, air-cooled four-stroke engine, automatic transmission, the `Tuff-up' tube and tyre combo — Honda's patented puncture reduction system, the electric start and the CLIC (convenient lift up independent cover), a unique mechanism that makes maintenance and repair simpler.
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