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ike Branding: The tech acronym tide isn’t restricted to car companies alone. Motorcycle manufacturers are also increasingly using technology as a positioning plank.

Market leader Hero Honda has already launched the fuel-injected 125 cc variant of the Glamour and will likely use the fuel injection technology as a future differentiator for its range.

Anil Dua, vice-president, marketing and sales, Hero Honda says, “We know that customer dynamics in this country are changing very fast, thanks to their exposure to lifestyles and trends around the world through travel, television and other media. Hence, they want more advanced products. So we constantly keep innovating by incorporating new technology into our products.”

As for Bajaj, it’s using indigenous innovations in the form of DTSi (digital twin spark-ignition) engines, which is similar to i-DSI technology used by Honda in its car engines.

The new DTSi engines utilise dual spark ignition for faster and better combustion. Two spark plugs at either ends of the combustion chamber provide faster and better combustion. This offers better power and fuel efficiency, besides reducing emissions.

The new 220cc Pulsar, which is slated for debut soon, has DTSfi technology where fuel injection is married to the twin spark plug innovation. In January this year, Pune-based Kinetic Motors had signed an agreement with Taiwan-based Sang Yang Industry Co (SYM) for technical collaboration.

The result is the development of a technologically advanced fuel injected 125cc scooter SYM F1 that delivers tremendous acceleration and a top whack of over 110 km/hour, which by Indian standards is revolutionary for a scooter. Clearly, the tech-plant isn’t just motorcycle phenomenon in two-wheelers.

Coming back to bikes, TVS is talking tech with the VT-i engines, which was first introduced in the Centra. VT-i (variable timing intelligent) engines are a new generation four-stroke engines that use a microprocessor control system.

It senses the engine requirement and adjusts the airflow into the engine and the ignition timing to suit the requirement of the engine. As a result these engines are able to deliver good fuel efficiency and a wide torque band.

The microprocessor of the VT-i engine also produces dual spark at the spark plugs compared to the single spark of a conventional engine. The timing of the sparks and the duration can be controlled by the microprocessor.

Suzuki, which has returned to the Indian market on its own, is also banking on a tech platform—the XTP, meaning extra torque performance. Suzuki motorcycles like the Zeus develop the torque of 10 Newton meter@3500rpm thanks to this technology.

Kat Sumi Takata, joint MD, Suzuki Motors says, “Technological innovations are always welcome as they offer the consumer better products with advanced features. Suzuki is offering the consumer a very refined engine and innovative features in its motorcycles. And we would continue to bring in the latest technology in future.”

Moto Muscle: Japanese motorcycle maker Yamaha has been winning MotoGP races the world over. This would not have been possible without sophisticated technology, right? So what is Yamaha doing for India?

Sanjay Tripathi, GM, R&D Yamaha India replies, “We are waiting for the market to mature because in future the fight will be over technology. The world over, we are the tech leaders and the technology that we will provide to our customers will be at least two years advanced than the nearest competitor.”

Auto experts say the trick for auto companies is to provide the customer better technology at a lower cost. The role of technology is to make things simpler and simplicity does not lie in pressing a button in your car to reach your destination; it lies in the smile the drive brings to your face when you do so.

from ” INDIATIMES NEWS NETWORK “