TVS Motors to launch Flame with a new 125 cc engine in March 2008.. Royal Enfield to tread carefully with its U.C.E (Unit Construction Engine) which also has two spark plugs..
After having to wait for 3 months, TVS Motors has finally decided to launch the 125 cc Flame with a new engine. The new engine will now have a single spark plug instead of the earlier two spark plug design. Payeng Says: "Many things can happen and do happen in India.. the Japanese obviously have a lot to learn about us.. but we should know better, shouldn't we..??". By the way TVS Motors have appealed against the verdict. Payeng Says: After the recent TVS Vs Bajaj face off, I bet that they are concerned. Related Posts:
The earlier CC-VTi engine had two spark plugs and three valves (one outlet, two inlet). At low RPM’s only two valves were functional and the third valve (inlet) became functional at high RPM’s. It was this because of the use of two spark plug for its single cylinder configuration, TVS was asked by the Madras High Court to stop selling and producing the 125 cc Flame. According to Bajaj Auto this was an infringement of their patented DTSi (Digital Twin Spark Plug Ignition) technology.
According to MoneyControl.Com, the Flame will now feature a new engine developed, patented and licenced by AVL, Austria. Actually even the earlier CC-VTi (Controlled Combustion Variable Timing Intelligent) engine was developed with the help of AVL. The new Flame with the new engine should be out by the third week of March 2008.
Also according to Moneycontrol.Com, TVS has lost around 120 crores of rupees in the last three months in sales because of the delay in launching the Flame. TVS Motors had also invested about 50 crores of rupees in developing the now defunct CCVTi engine.
Here are a few statements made by Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and MD TVS Motors (taken from Hindu Business Line).
Royal Enfield decides to tread carefully with its twin spark plug design.
Taking a leaf out of the Twin Spark Plug Controversy between Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors, Royal Enfield has decided to play safe with its new U.C.E (Unit Contruction Engine) platform.
The new U.C.E model has a 500cc engine, and is the first engine of the company that will have an integrated gearbox. Another feature that is under the scanner now is the twin spark plug technology on the UCE model.
Royal Enfield is learnt to be now discussing with its legal counsel if its engine technology infringes upon the twin spark plug patent held by Bajaj Auto.
According to MoneyControl.Com, the new U.C.E model is slated to be launched during the April-June 2008 (probably for the Export markets initially).
RL Ravichandran, CEO, Royal Enfield says,
"The company is more focused on developing a new engine platform. The major difference is its integrated gearbox and the electronic fuel injection. It is a lean burn engine that will initially be used for exports in a new model. We are not concerned about one spark plug or two spark plugs"
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This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.
22 Comments:
Srinivasan sounds like a sore loser here. Heading a billion dollar engineering group, he should have known better than to go about copying patented stuff from other manufacturers.
And if he's so enamoured of the Japs, why'd he have to break off the tie-up with Suzuki in the first place? Osamu Suzuki too had mouthed off about the Tata Nano & how it would be an impossibility to produce. We all know how that story ended, don't we?
hi Payeng
i have a question(may sound stupid)
if honda invented twin spark plug in one cylinder,how did bajaj use it?
Its true that Honda invented the twin spark plug design for cars but probably Bajaj is the first manufacturer to use it in a small capacity motorcycle.. and hence been awarded the patent in 2003 for the next 20 years.
"Maybe the early bird managed to get the worm"
# Bajaj has been giving us the DTSi based bikes since 2003: Great
# TVS can't manufacture and sell the CCV-Ti based engines: Too Bad.
But its time to move on with better technologies and not get stuck with 2 spark plugs..
Come on TVS, Come on Bajaj the challenge is to come up with something even better.
The next big thing will be GDI by Bajaj. Probably this year itself.
Well, the reactions of Srinivasan are understandable because it's never digestable to loose against the arched rivals!!!
Guess forcing verdicts is becoming the trend of this fundamentally correct Automobile Company (first proclaiming RTR the most awarded bike of the year and now quoting others with statements against India).
I guess we should enjoy this fire as this fire's gonna yield gold for the Indian bikers.
Payeng dude!!! The template of your blog......is becomming great day by day........guess we need to talk ;-)
Lolz, I just hope TVS puts in a more powerful engine in this kitty!
a - la fiero one! but that will reduce the mileage claim!
What is this integrated gear-box about? As in how does it affect the functioning of the engine? I've no clue.
Thanks Payeng. Will this also rectify the 'clutch problem (clutch becoming almost dysfunctional if kept pulled at high revs in traffic)' that we face in the AVL engine with left-side gear shift?
@Siddharth,
Current models of Royal Enfield has the Gearbox and Engine as separately constructed units.. which is an Old Design.
the UCE (Unit Construction Engine) will have a design similar to modern bikes in which the engine and gearbox are a singular unit.
Benefits of the Older design is that servicing becomes easy as the parts are separately accessible but the older design also adds additional weight of the bike.
@Sajal and everybody,
I too believe that this competition between our bike makers will yield us even better bikes with better technologies and features in the future.
@Siddharth,
Even if I admire Royal Enfield bikes, I do not know much about them (since I do not ride them).. or about its problems.
But the new engine should definitely be an improvement over the older model.
Probably one day I'll get a Royal Enfield Bullet.
:) oh okay, no probs. but that's the reason i sold my Bullet for. so was wondering if that's been resolved.
i also realized that the older Bullet engine is far better than the newer AVL engine.
time to get back to office-work. good day.
hi satadal,
its me bharat! ive sent u a mail.
wens the apache efi gona be launched????
@Road Yo..
What is this "GDI"..??
@ Bharat..
According to news reports the RTR Efi should be out by somewhere in March 2008
GDI - Gasoline Direct Injection.
They've already launched an auto with this tech. It won't be long before this gets on to bikes.
http://www.businessstandard.com/search/storypage_new.php?leftnm=14&leftindx=14&subLeft=&autono=306886
Dude why'd you take off the blog about the number plate thingy? -
Hi Payeng,
Interesting article. BUT here in Jakarta, TVS is selling the RTR with two sparkplugs. So is this product is next to be sued by Bajaj for using the "similar" technology? Just wonder about this.
@Gary,
really bro..?? I did not know that TVS was selling the Apache RTR in Indonesia as well.. I thought they were only seeling the "Neo" bebek..
Are you sure that the RTR in Indonesia has two spark plugs..??
Also does TVS have any Indonesian website..??
@Payeng:
Not only NEO BEBEK, TVS already sell RTR from last month and it has two sparkplugs and I am sure about the sparkplugs.
No website now for TVS, but I am sure in the near month they will have it.
I will try to take the picture this saturday and share with you.
GDI is invented by volkswagen for use in cars
it is called FSI by volkswagen
Twin spark plug use in engines was invented by FIAT for their car model maria
Bajaj got patent for twin spark plug use in engines for less than 250cc so there will be no problem for Royal Enfield UCE
GDI is invented by volkswagen for use in cars
it is called FSI by volkswagen
Twin spark plug use in engines was invented by FIAT for their car model maria
Bajaj got patent for twin spark plug use in engines for less than 250cc so there will be no problem for Royal Enfield UCE
@Road Yo..
What is this "GDI"..??
@ Bharat..
According to news reports the RTR Efi should be out by somewhere in March 2008
Well, the reactions of Srinivasan are understandable because it's never digestable to loose against the arched rivals!!!
Guess forcing verdicts is becoming the trend of this fundamentally correct Automobile Company (first proclaiming RTR the most awarded bike of the year and now quoting others with statements against India).
I guess we should enjoy this fire as this fire's gonna yield gold for the Indian bikers.
Payeng dude!!! The template of your blog......is becomming great day by day........guess we need to talk ;-)
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