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hero moto corp new launch

Just a few days back, Hero MotoCorp confirmed that a new generation Karizma ZMR would roll out housing a powerful engine. Post the Indian bike maker’s technical alliance with the US-based two-wheeler firm Erik Buell Racing, the ZMR V2.0 would mark the partnership’s first commercial production vehicle. 

Here are few clear images of the upcoming Hero ZMR V2.0 besides pictures showcasing the updated Hero Xtreme and the Splendor. Hero has announced that 15 models, either completely new or refreshed versions, would be introduced in India by March 2014. The following bikes are definitely among those introductions.

2013 Hero Karizma ZMR

Resembling the Pulsar 220 with a face mask that incorporates a twin-headlight assembly, the bike is also seen sporting a new fairing, new front decals, racing inspired taillight assembly (as seen on the new R15), new split seats, redesigned grab rails, larger windscreen, revamped exhaust and ORVMs that are mounted on the fairings.

Except for unshared engine specifications, the 2013 Hero ZMR remains unchanged in the aspects of suspension, wheels, fuel tank capacity and brakes.

2013 Hero Xteme

The front fairing and the indicators seen in the present model have been replaced with a sleeker unit. The updated Xtreme is also anticipated with a new instrument console. Mechanicals will remain unchanged, with the same 150cc single cylinder engine belting out 14.4bhp and 12.2Nm of torque.

Hero MotoCorp also stated that it would launch products in 50 new markets and targets to sell 100 million bikes by 2020. As part of the expansion strategy, Hero MotoCorp will also set up its production facilities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and plans to invest INR 2,500 crore towards R&D and production capacity expansions.

 Now, a pic of the new Hero Karizma R 2013 has surfaced on the cyber space and initial impressions are that the new ZMA-R isn’t too different from the Karizma we all have grown up riding.

From whatever we can make out from this single image above, the new Hero Karizma R 2013 would come with the same twin projector headlamp setup that is found on the new Karizma ZMR 2013. This is definitely a good thing, considering that arch rival Bajaj Pulsar 220 has won a lot of appreciation for its powerful projector headlamps. The new ZMA-R’s fairing seems to be a “quarter-variant” of the new ZMR’s fairing and would house the same large trafficators that can be seen on the new ZMR. Also, unlike the last gen ZMA, the new bike gets fairing mounted ORVMs. The bike also gets new “R Premium Sports” decals for the fairing.

The new Karizma R will share its rakish tail end with the new ZMR. This means that the new ZMA would come with split seats and will have a pair of split grab-rails (finally!). The Yamaha R15 V2.0 like rear registration plate bracket too will be shared with the new ZMR.

Looking at the engine bay, it can be clearly seen that the motor won’t be an FI unit (what else is the fuel-knob doing over there?). Also, the engine seems to be the same old unit and we reckon that the only new bit about it would be the slightly increased power output. Definitely a bummer, considering that we all were hoping for a 22bhp-plus output.

The suspension and wheels too have been carried over from the earlier model. Ditto for the fuel tank, disc brakes and the foot-peg positioning. However, the fact that the new ZMA-R comes with a new engine cowl, and much more importantly, an O-Ring chain and clip-ons is pretty laudable.

As we have been saying, both the new ZMR and the new Karizma R are a part of Hero Motocorp’s strategy to cash in on the festive season that is about to commence.

However, it would be interesting to see how well is the new Hero Karizma R 2013, which isn’t as comprehensively updated as we all were hoping it would be, received by the bike aficionados of our country.

Going by the fact that the bike is mechanically similar to the earlier model, we expect that the price won’t see much of a change. Stay tuned to Motoroids for more dope on the new Hero Karizma R 2013 and the new Hero Karizma ZMR 2013.

Earlier today, we posted an image revealing how the new Hero Karizma ZMR 2013 would look like and now, we have to got to learn few more things about the refreshed Hero MotoCorp flagship.

As can be seen in the images above, the new Hero Karizma ZMR 2013 sports a twin projector headlamp setup. Our friends would know how we can’t stop appreciating arch rival Bajaj’s Pulsar 220 for its brilliant set of projector headlamps and it seems like ZMR too would have an equally effective pair of headlights.

The front fairing also houses somewhat large trafficators and the bike has a pair of body colored ORVMs.

The new ZMR will boast of a rather rakish tail end. The ZMR will come with split seats and gets a pair of new split grab-rails too. Also, the bike will come with a new rear registration plate bracket, which is much like the one on the R15 V2.0.

Another image that you see here reveals that the ZMR will continue to sport the same instrument console that is found in the pre-facelift ZMR. This speedo console seems to have been inspired from that of the Honda VFR and looks pretty upmarket.

Hero Motocorp has already confirmed that the ZMR facelift would get a more powerful engine. This engine would be the first commercial production model post their technical partnership with US-based Erik Buell Racing (EBR).

Talking about the engine, Mr. Munjal has said, “There is a lot of innovation happening in our own R&D and we will bring it to the market through some of the products we will launch. We have applied for patents for those innovations. This is showcasing our capability. We will be launching the new Karizma variants which are redesigned and the engine made more powerful with our partner EBR. This is the first commercial production model in which they have played a big part in development.”

As can be seen in the images here, the new ZMR would look completely different (and bigger) than the current model and as seen above, would come with a twin-headlight asssembly, an all new fairing that remotely resembles those of some superbikes of the yore, new decals, sportier rear end, new seat, and a new exhaust pipe.

The suspension and wheels, however, seem to have been carried over from the last gen model and this means that the bike continues to come with conventional gas charged twin rear shock absorbers, five spoke alloy wheels and disc brake assembly at front and rear.

Both the new ZMR and the new Karizma are a part of Hero Motocorp’s strategy to cash in on the festive season where it would be introducing 15 new models- majority of which would be launched between the months of October to December 2013.

Stay tuned to Motoroids for more dope on the new 2013 Hero Karizma ZMR.