10 Changing Tracks

Moving on to a new phase of life..

Lately I have been very busy with some new stuff. Am entering into a new exciting (journey to the unknown) phase in life.. am changing tracks.

Will update more about it in the coming days.

11 KTM unleashes the 390 Duke.!! 125/200/390 Duke gets ABS

KTM 390 Duke joins its 125 and 200 siblings..

Made in India.. for the world

Just before the curtains go up on the 2012 Milan Motorcycle show (also known as EICMA), images and details of the next big iteration of the India developed/India made KTM Duke series has been made public. The 390 Duke is here..!!

2 Official: CBZ Xtreme rebranded Xtreme & CD Dawn/Deluxe as HF Dawn/Deluxe

Hero officially drops "CB" and "CD" branding from its CBZ Xtreme and CD Dawn/Deluxe models

..also "Honda" tag has been dropped from all of Hero's products

The decision to drop the CB and CD branding from Hero's CBZ Xtreme and CD Dawn/Deluxe models were made public earlier. At the Jan 2012 Auto Expo Hero did show the same models with the new branding. But it took some months for Hero to officially incorporate the re branding on the models itself. A couple of weeks back Hero updated its corporate site with photos of the new re branded bikes as "Xtreme" and "HF-Dawn/Deluxe".

4 Passion X Pro appears on Hero's Website [Details/Price/Photos]

Hero publishes details of its next model, the Passion X Pro on its official site

Of the three models shown at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo (Maestro scooter, 125 cc Ignitor & 110 cc Passion X Pro), Hero finally publishes details of the Passion X Pro on it's site. Having already launched the other two models shown at the expo, the Passion X Pro is now expected to make it to the showrooms very soon.

My Take on the Style: My first impression of the bike in terms of looks is that it is a neat looking commuter bike. The Passion (100 cc) is already a popular model with stylish looks (for a commuter) as it's main selling point. From what appears from the photos, the new Passion X Pro does take the stylish commuter quotient of brand Passion successfully to the next logical level.

2 Bajaj phases out the Boxer BM150 in India, Discover becomes World No. 1 in Sep 2012

Bajaj pulls the plug of one brand (Boxer) in India at the same time one of its other brand (Discover) becomes world no.1 ..

According to Mr. Bajaj; Pulsar, Discover and Boxer are the three major brands around which the strategy of Bajaj Auto would revolve in the near future. With the Pulsar continuing with its decade long dominance in the 150 cc and above segments and the already hot selling Discover becoming the World's Number One selling brand in the month of September 2012 (displacing the Hero Splendor), Mr. Bajaj seems vindicated with his brand strategy.

Brands might not die but can lose it's relevance over time

But Bajaj has recently discontinued the Boxer BM150 in India citing slow sales. It means that the Boxer brand will now be limited to the export markets like Nigeria in Africa where the Boxer brand is quite popular.

News Source: BS Motoring, DNA