Top 5 Highlights From Auto Expo 2018

From the TVS Zeppelin to the Emflux One, here’s what made headlines during the last expo

If you are a two-wheeler enthusiast, then 2020 Auto Expo may be a bit of a downer for you. You see, Suzuki and Piaggio are the only mainstream manufacturers who will be attending this year’s expo. We kind of have an idea of what Suzuki and Piaggio will be bringing, but all that is just speculation for now. And we might have to wait until the expo to see some really cool two-wheelers. So let’s take a look at the highlights from Auto Expo 2018 and wish that this year’s expo packs just as much as the last one. 

Emflux One: 

India’s first electric sportbike, the Emflux One, was showcased at the previous Auto Expo. And since then, we haven’t heard anything from the manufacturer about its launch. And we are quite excited to see this motorcycle in the flesh. Why? Because it boasts some pretty impressive numbers. The company claims that it can sprint from 0-100kmph in 3 seconds and has a top speed of 200kmph. Powering the e-sportbike is a 60kW motor that produces 84Nm of torque and has a claimed city range of 200km and a highway range of 150km.

TVS Zeppelin: 

TVS’ stand at the 2018 event was one of the busiest as it had brought some of the most interesting concepts with it, one of which was the Zeppelin. The highlight of this concept motorcycle was its ‘E-Boost’ feature that works in conjunction with its 220cc single-cylinder motor. What it does is boost the petrol engine at low speeds with the help of an electric motor. Moreover, the concept bike came with a camera fitted into the headlamp housing, which is a feature we are yet to see on any production motorcycle from the manufacturer yet. 

Suzuki V-Strom 650:

The middleweight ADV tourer segment is dominated by the Triumph Tiger 800, but Suzuki decided to jump onto this bandwagon with the V-Strom 650XT. Powering the motorcycle is a 645cc, liquid-cooled, V-twin engine that makes 71PS and 62.3Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. So how does Suzuki’s middleweight ADV perform in Indian conditions? Head here to find out.

Suzuki GSX-S750:

The V-Strom 650XT wasn’t the only premium motorcycle that Suzuki had showcased at the previous expo. It also had its middleweight streetfighter, the GSX-S750, on display. We recently had the chance to ride the GSX-S750 around a race track to see if it can scare off its contenders. Here’s what we found. Moreover, we believe Suzuki might add a new motorcycle in its 650cc lineup in India at the upcoming Auto Expo. 

Yamaha R15 V3.0: 

The R15 is one of the most popular names out there in the world of entry-level sportbike. And at the 2018 Auto Expo, Yamaha showcased the most high-tech version of the R15. Apart from a fully digital instrument console and LED lights, it now comes with Yamaha’s Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) system, a feature that soon trickled down to its other bikes as well. But now that the BS6-compliant version is here, it has lost a bit of performance compared to the older model. The updated BS6-compliant 155cc motor now generates 18.6PS and 14.1Nm, which is 0.7PS and 0.6Nm less than before.