2018 Honda Dio Spotted Testing

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Honda’s two-wheeler division stands number one in terms of scooter sales. This is mainly due to the popularity of the Honda Activa and partly because of the Honda Dio, a favourite among college goers. Apart from this, the Japanese manufacturer also has the widest network in terms of sales and service as well with 5,500 touch points to be precise.

To create an even stronger foothold in the market, Honda seems to be targeting youngsters with an all-new 2018 version of the Dio. The new a heavily camouflaged version of the scooter was the recently spotted testing near Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu.

It is clearly evident that the design of the new Dio has been borrowed heavily from the current scooter. For instance, the front end and the side panels resemble the sharp and angular design seen on the current Dio. The grab rails and the saddle aren’t any different to the model on sale today either.

However, there are some noticeable changes that we think will make the new scooter not only more comfortable for the rider and pillion but also give it a more upmarket appeal.

The pressed steel wheels have been replaced with matte finished multiple spoke black alloy wheels. This will also enable Honda to equip the new Dio with tubeless tyres instead of the Tuff Up tyres seen on the current scooter. Suspension duties at the front will now be taken care of by telescopic forks, which should make tackling potholes less cumbersome. Moving to the centre, the pillion footrests are no longer engraved into the body and are offered in a more traditional manner. This should make seating more comfortable for the pillion while allowing the rider to take turns with a lot more ease in busy traffic conditions. The rear showcases a new exhaust can, which should justify the new design elements hidden under the heavy camouflage.

Irrespective of all the cosmetic and mechanical updates. We expect the new Honda Dio to be powered by the same powerplant that powers Honda’s 110cc scooter family. This carburetted motor produces 8.11PS of peak power and 8.77Nm of peak torque.

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However, there is also the possibility that the scooter caught testing could be the Dio’s elder sibling which might be powered by the 125cc motor that powers the Activa 125. This motor produces 8.8PS of maximum power and 10.54Nm of peak torque.

Even though Honda has been successful in capturing the 110cc scooter market in India, it hasn’t been able to penetrate the 125cc scooter market with the same aggression. If this new product happens to be a 125cc version of the Dio, it would be interesting to see how the big red plans to gain a stronger foothold. We look forward to this new offering with anticipation as it's been awhile since something has really taken the scooter market by storm.