Auto Expo 2020: What To Expect From Suzuki

The Auto Expo nears ever closer and the only Japanese manufacturer in attendance will be Suzuki. The brand has done well on our shores in recent times with multiple India-specific products, and we can expect it to bring a few new ones to the Expo next year.

V-Strom 1050

The flagship V-Strom received an update at EICMA this year and we expect the V-Strom 1050 to be shown at the Expo, ahead of a launch in mid-2020. Engine displacement remains unchanged at 1037cc but the motor is now Euro5/BS6-compliant, producing 107.4PS and 100Nm. Other additions include a new LCD screen and an electronics suite with traction control, riding modes and load-dependent ABS.

Two variants are on offer - a more street-focused standard variant that rolls on alloy wheels, alongside a more hardcore XT variant with wire-spoke units. Both the standard and XT variants of the V-Strom 1000 are available in India, and we expect the same to happen with the XT as well. Expect a price of around Rs 14.40 lakh for the V-Strom, with the XT variant setting you back by an additional Rs 50,000 to 1 lakh.

Intruder 250

The Gixxer 250 and Gixxer 250 SF models won’t remain the only quarter-litre offerings in Suzuki’s lineup for much longer. The platform is expected to spawn a bunch of different motorcycles with various body styles in the future, beginning with the Intruder 250 cruiser. Suzuki launched the 155cc Intruder a while ago and the little cruiser did quite well. The brand will be hoping to repeat this success in the 250cc cruiser segment as well.

The Gixxer 250 is powered by a 249cc fuel-injected engine producing 26.5PS and 22.6Nm, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The smaller Intruder borrowed its underpinnings from the 155cc Gixxer to a great extent, and Suzuki could adopt a similar approach with the 250 as well. Going by the pricing of the other 250cc models in its lineup and the pricing of the smaller Intruder, we can expect the 250 to sell for around Rs 1.80 lakh once launched.

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V-Strom 250

This one is a bit of wishful thinking but with Suzuki expressing a desire to expand its single-cylinder 250cc platform, we could possibly see a V-Strom 250 adventure bike sometime soon. It would be a great time to enter the segment, since it is one that is rapidly gaining interest, especially with the KTM 250 Adventure slated to arrive next year as well.

The fact that Suzuki already has an engine well suited to the purpose is an added advantage. A 19-inch/17-inch wheel combo and long-travel suspension would be apt for this bike, but asking for wire-spoke wheels in this segment is a bit too ambitious. We hope that Suzuki displays this motorcycle in some form at the Expo, followed by a launch later next year at around Rs 1.90 lakh.

Larger Burgman Street

The Access was a success because it made the jump to 125cc while most other manufacturers were still hung up on 110cc scooters. The extra grunt attracted a lot of buyers and perhaps it’s now time for history to repeat itself. We think that Suzuki is working a larger Burgman, perhaps something in the 150-165cc range.

This is a segment that at the moment only contains niche models like the Aprilia SR 150 and Vespa SXL 150, with no real mainstream offering. Suzuki would benefit from being the first-mover in this segment and perhaps it could display this larger Burgman at the Expo. Expect it to be a feature rich maxi-scooter.

SV650

Suzuki has taken note of how well the middleweight naked segment is doing in India. It already offers the GSX-S750 in India, but fortunately, it also has a more affordable model that it sells internationally, in the form of the SV650. It’s powered by the same 645cc V-twin motor seen in the V-Strom 650, and the bike was recently updated overseas with fresh styling and colour schemes.

By using the CKD route, Suzuki could price the bike at around Rs 6 lakh to 6.2 lakh, allowing it to go up against the Kawasaki Z650. We expect Suzuki to display the SV at the upcoming Expo and hopefully launch it sometime next year.