At a recent press conference held in New Delhi, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, said that the Duke 690 could be introduced in India by 2015. If that's got you excited, the news gets even better as Pierer also mentioned that the Husqvarna brand could be introduced in India within the next couple of years.
Pierer's company, Pierer Industrie AG, acquired Husqvarna from the BMW Group in January last year. Production of Husqvarna motorcycles (ranging between 125 and 390cc) could take place at Bajaj's Chakan plant, where production volume is expected to touch 100,000 units over the next three years. Pierer said that over 70% of the production would be exported.
As for the Duke 690, power comes from a single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 690cc liquid-cooled engine. This engine produces 67 hp and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. With a kerb weight of only 149.5 kg, the 690 has a power-to-weight ratio of 448 hp per tonne.
Before launching the Duke 690, KTM would introduce the fully faired RC series, the RC200 and RC390, in India next year. The production RC125, RC200 and RC390 made their world debuts at the International Motorcycle Exhibition (EICMA) held in Italy earlier this month.
Even before we move into 2014 though, December could see Bajaj launch the new 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 in India. The Z1000, like the KTM RC Series, made had its world premiere at EICMA.
