TVS launches new 160cc Apache RTR

Bangalore, July 5: Energising the sluggish motorcycle market in the country, TVS Motor Company today launched its new offering 160cc Apache RTR (Racing Throttle Response), the first of its kind in the country, and aimed to cross One Million mark sales in bikes this year.

Company President K N Radhakrishnan, unveiling the new vehicle, an upgrade of 150 cc Apache launched last year, told newsmen here that TVS Motor aimed to garner 25 per cent of the market share of around 60,000 to 65,000 vehicles in the premium segment this fiscal.

Last year its share was 15 per cent. The company had sold around 900,000 motorcycles last year.

Stating that the first two quarters for the industry would continue to be sluggish, he said that TVS hoped to continue its higher-than-industry growth for the third successive year with another new offering in the Executive segment, a successor to TVS Victor in the third quarter. The two vehicles should drive the growth as the company aimed to cross 1.7 million sales in 2007-08.

He said the market was impacted by reluctance on part of financial institutions to provide loans. This should be a temporary and cyclic phenomenon and the industry should look for a higher growth, he added.

The all new apache, packed with 15.2 BHP had a number of first time features and spoke pure aggression. High on performance by combining TVS racing technology with strong in house R and D, Apache RTR packed enormous power. With an astonishing 15.2 Brake Horse Power made it the most powerful bike of its class on Indian roads, he said adding that it had a top speed of 118 km per hour and could reach 60 km per hour in just 4.8 seconds and 100 km in 17.7 seconds, making it the fastest two wheeler in its class.

Some of the first time in India features included a digital console with service due reminder, clock and dual trip meter, adjustable clip on handle bar, Rotor petal disc 270 mm, self illuminating wheel rim in titanium grew and yellow, racing stripes, matt paints and monotube inverted gas filled cainsiter shocks with polyutherine block. The price of the vehicle was Rs 57,700 ex-showroom in Bangalore.

UNI