The Hindu Business Line : New CD series: Hero Honda opens throttle

Hero Honda still believes that the entry-level bike will continue to be the largest segment of the market. And to demonstrate its confidence in this category, the company has unveiled new versions of the CD Dawn and CD Deluxe.

The top two two-wheeler manufacturers in the country are increasingly becoming a study in contrast. The clear leader is still Hero Honda, but the erstwhile No 1, Bajaj Auto, is fast catching up. And now, more than ever, both so tantalisingly poised, seem to be adopting completely contrasting strategies to expand their market share.

Bajaj Auto stunned everybody last month by announcing that it would focus only on executive segment bikes and a refreshed line up of variomatic scooters.

The company is expected to phase-out its entry-level 100cc segment bikes in a couple of years.

Foreseeing a more mature and demanding bike-buying population , Bajaj intends to exit the 100cc segment and focus on bikes with engine sizes 125cc and above. Only time will tell whether Bajaj's hunch will pay off.

But in a diametrically contrary strategy, Hero Honda has reiterated that it still believes that the entry-level bike will continue to be the largest segment of the market. Hero Honda's attempts at establishing its credentials in the 125cc-plus bike category have been less successful than its ability to keep a stranglehold on the entry-level and 100cc segments.

And so, to reiterate and demonstrate its confidence in the 100cc category, Hero Honda recently unveiled new versions of its entry-level bikes — CD Dawn and CD Deluxe.

Mr Pawan Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors, said at the launch of the new variants that these are a reiteration of the company's trust and belief in the 100cc entry segment. "We believe that as new customers come into our fold, many of them will be looking for value-for-money products in the 100cc segment combined with attractive looks." These two new launches fill that need gap, he had opined.

New engine

The launch of the new CD Deluxe and CD Dawn, with a new 100cc engine, is in line with Hero Honda's strategy to augment the momentum of growth for the company in the 100cc segment and consolidate its overall superiority across categories.

According to Hero Honda officials, the new 100cc engine in the two bikes is vastly improved after a series of refinements, achieving a combination of functional utility and aesthetics. The customer can look forward to getting class-leading mileage along with power, a hallmark that has kept the CD series popular among the fuel-efficiency conscious entry-level bikers.

The New CD Deluxe has a higher ground clearance at 165mm, to take on all types of roads without compromising rider comfort. Hero Honda says that the aesthetics of the motorcycle have also been designed keeping in mind the changing likes and desires of customers in this segment.

The bike sports a new visor, which lends it a more stylish persona and contemporary looks, further strengthened by the upmarket shape of the new trapezoidal multi-reflector headlight. The motorcycle comes equipped with a big and more contoured fuel tank with knee recesses and unique 3-D graphics.

The new multi-reflector taillight accompanied with body-coloured full rear cowl and aluminium die-cast rear grip gives the CD Deluxe a completely rejuvenated look. The 3-D graphics give it a distinct shape and a sporty look that gel perfectly well with the overall body design of the motorcycle.

The seat has been broadened to improve rider comfort. The bike is also being offered with user-friendly "adjustable" rear shock-absorbers. The stylish muffler protector adds to the safety of the co-rider, while also enhancing the visual appeal.

What's new

Some of the new features of the CD Deluxe are:

Body coloured full rear cowl and sporty 3D graphics.

New stylish visor with trapezoidal multi reflector headlight.

New fuel tank with knee grip and unique 3D graphics.

Aluminium die-cast rear handle.

Multi-reflector taillight.

User-friendly two step adjustable rear shock absorbers.

A lockable main stand — an added anti-theft feature.

Stylish muffler protector for the safety of the co-rider.

New console with fuel gauge.

Broad seat for enhanced riding comfort.

More ground clearance, 165mm — to take on all type of roads.

Hero Honda has said that every aspect of the motorcycle — from technology, to its looks and rider comfort — has been addressed keeping in mind customer requirements and feedback.

The new version is said to be a result of dedicated market research, which focused on the requirements of customers who want value for money.

The new 100cc Hero Honda engine that has replaced the earlier versions is the first powerplant change that the company has given these two bikes. The new engine is expected to be both slightly more powerful and marginally more fuel-efficient. The peak power of the new engine is up by about five per cent at 7.7PS, which is delivered at a lower 7,500 rpm, compared to the previous engine's 7.4PS at 8,000 rpm.

The improvement in power is, however, not expected to lead to a reduction in fuel efficiency. On the contrary, Hero Honda claims that other features of the new engine enable it to offer a slight improvement in fuel efficiency too.

The new bikes now also feature larger reflectors for the headlamps and lighting is more powerful. The ground clearance of these bikes has also been raised.

Most of these changes have been incorporated in keeping with the expectations of customers in rural areas, who form a sizeable chunk of buyers for these bikes.

The CD Deluxe and CD Dawn will be available in four colours and five stripe combinations — Black (two stripe combinations), Candy Blazing Red, Classy Maroon Metallic and Boon Silver Metallic.

Both the versions costs nearly the same as the models they are replacing.

The CD Deluxe is priced at Rs 34,900 and the CD Dawn, at an attractive Rs 31,900 (both ex-showroom Delhi).

LA Auto Show 2006

The Los Angeles Auto Show celebrated its bicentennial this year. This international auto show showcased about a thousand of the newest vehicles from 47 different automobile manufacturers worldwide. This year, the show, open to the public from December 1-10, featured a record 35 world and North American debuts.

The LA Auto Show was sanctioned for the first time by OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles), the international automotive trade association. The OICA had the show on its global auto show calendar.

The highlights of this year's show included:

Twentyone world debuts from brands such as Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Lamborghini, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen.

Seven concept car world debuts from Acura, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Volkswagen.

Fourteen North American debuts from Ferrari, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.