India-bound Benelli TRK 251 and Leoncino 250 launched in Malaysia
Before making it to the Indian shores, the Benelli TRK 251 and the Leoncino 250 have been reached Malaysia. The TRK 251 is available for RM13,888 (INR 2.36 lakh**), while the Leoncino 250 retails at RM 14,688 (INR 2.50 lakh**).
Also Read: Benelli 502C cruiser to arrive in India by 2020
The Benelli Leoncino 250 and the Benelli TRK 251 share the 249 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-valve, fuel-injected motor that pumps out a maximum power of 25.5 bhp at 9,250 rpm and a peak torque of 21.2 Nm at 8,000 rpm. The engine comes linked to a six-speed gearbox. It still isn’t clear whether Benelli will bring these motorcycles with a BS-IV compliant engine or an updated, BS-VI mill.
The premium feature list of the quarter-litre motorcycles includes inverted front forks and a monoshock suspension at the back. Anchoring duties are handled by disc brakes on both wheels, while the safety net comprises dual-channel ABS.
In terms of looks, the Leoncino 250 and the Leoncino TRK 251 draw styling cues from their respective higher displacement variants. Thus, the TRK 251 packs a semi-fairing design along with a tall windscreen to offer better windblast protection and enhanced comfort at highway speeds. The Leoncino 250, on the other hand, has a neo-retro styling with an oval-shaped headlight at the front. Other key features include LED lighting and a digital display.
The TRK 502 range and the Leoncino 500 are already available in our market. The TRK 502 and TRK 502X are priced at INR 5.10 lakh* and INR 5.50 lakh* respectively. The Leoncino 500 retails at 4.79 lakh (ex-showroom India). Benelli may extend the Leoncino 500 range in our market with the launch of the Trail and Sport versions of the standard model if it witnesses promising demand.
Also Read: Benelli scraps plan to set up a manufacturing facility in India
Apart from the premium quarter-litre motorcycles, Benelli India will introduce a 400 cc budget motorcycle that will compete with the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the Jawa motorcycles. While the company is yet to reveal which will be this product, we expect it to be the Imperiale 400. It will heavily localise the model for aggressive (sub-INR 2 lakh*) prices.
*Ex-showroom Delhi
**INR prices as per the conversion rate on August 28, 2019