Yamaha Motor launches 'Gladiator'

Bangalore, May 15: Targetting the wild and action loving youth in the age group of 24-30 years, Japanese two-wheeler major Yahama today launched 'Gladiator,' which it claimed as the best machine in the fiercely competitive 125 cc segment.

Speaking at the launcing ceremony, Yamaha Motor India (YMI) Regional Sales Head N Srikanth said, ''Gladiator a four-stroke, five-speed motorcycle was a combination of power and performance, dynamic sporty styling and boasted an unmached cost of ownership in the category. The single cylinder engine churned out a maximum power out put of 11 BHP at 7500 rpm and could zoom to a speed of 0-60 kmph in just 5.8 seconds, which was best in the segment.

In his message, CEO and Managing Director of YMI, Tomotaka Ishikawa said, ''True to Yamaha's belief of setting new benchmarks by offering products that surpase customer expectation, the Gladiator will kick start a new biking lifestyle in the Indian roads. The new model has been developed on the concept of a 'next generation fun bike, he added.'' Mr Srikant said Yamaha had a market share of five per cent in the country and it aimed to take it up to 15 per cent in the next two years. The present production from its plant in Surajpur near Noida stood at 3.4 lakh and the company would produce one lakh Gladiators in the first year.

The new motorcycle came in two variants with Gladiator DX featuring electric self-start and disc brakes, while standard model came with kick start and drum brakes. Both models delivered a best mileage of 67 kmpl and carried a ex-showroom price tag of Rs 44,990 and Rs 41,990 ex-showroom, respectively.

UNI