Benelli may further postpone the Indian launch of the Imperiale 400 to ensure a proper groundwork exists at that time, reports BikeWale. A report from earlier this year stated that the Imperiale 400 could arrive in India by March 2020.
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Benelli has high expectations from the Imperiale 400, and it wants to ensure that its Indian partner leaves no stone unturned before the launch. The report further adds that the Imperiale 400 will bring large volumes to the company. Once launched, the motorcycle will rival the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the Jawa range of products.
Benelli plans to localise significant components to keep the prices competitive. The company is reportedly in talks with a few vendors. The brand also aims to have a well-spread dealership network before introducing the Imperiale 400.
Last month, we saw the first image of the Indian-spec Imperiale 400 at the ARAI facility in Pune. The spy image revealed that the India-bound Imperiale 400 will look identical to the international version. Styling cues will include chrome mask for the headlight, chrome mirror housing, rubber pad on the sides of the fuel tank and split-style seat. An India-specific change is the inclusion of a saree guard that is mandatory for all motorcycles sold in our country.
The Imperiale 400 uses a 373.5 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder, SOHC engine with fuel injection that is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The motor, in its current guise, makes 19.7 PS of power at 5,500 rpm and 28 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. The BS-VI compliant model that will be introduced in the Indian market may have slightly different performance numbers.
To ensure that the production cost is kept in check, the company will equip the Imperiale 400 with conventional telescopic forks and twin spring-loaded shock absorbers. A 300 mm disc at the front and a 240 mm rotor at the back will perform the anchoring duties while the safety net will pack dual-channel ABS as standard. The motorcycle will use halogen headlight and conventional dials for the instrument console.
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As reported earlier, Benelli India plans to have 40 dealerships across the country, and the company targets annual sales of 1,500 bikes for the current year.
[Source: Bikewale.com]
