Top 5 Scooters Of Auto Expo 2020

These scooters really managed to grab the spotlight and how!

As far as two-wheelers are concerned, things were pretty dull at Auto Expo 2020. However, the scooter segment witnessed some interesting additions, right from conventional petrol-powered scooters to a couple of electric ones that managed to stand apart from the crowd. Here are our top 5 picks:

Aprilia SXR160:

The unveiling of the Aprilia SXR160 came as a pleasant surprise for most of us enthusiasts. Scheduled to be launched in mid-2020, this maxi-style scooter will be Aprilia’s flagship scooter in the country. Underneath that sharp bodywork lies the same engine as the Aprilia SR 160 BS6. It is expected to make the same amount of power (11PS) and torque (11.6Nm) as the sporty scooter.

Aprilia says it will commence bookings for the SXR160 from August 2020, with deliveries expected to start from the third quarter of this year. Expect Aprilia to command a premium of around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 over the SR160 BS6, which is priced at Rs 1.03 lakh (ex-showroom Hyderabad).

Suzuki Burgman Street MotoGP Edition:

The MotoGP livery made the Suzuki Burgman Street BS6 look leagues ahead of the standard scooter. If you’re keen to buy one, you’ll have to wait for a bit as even the BS6 version of the standard scooter is yet to be launched. Expect Suzuki to launch the scooter in the coming weeks. The BS6-compliant scooter retains the same 8.7PS power output as the BS4 model. However, peak torque has reduced from 10.2Nm to 10Nm.

The BS6 update is likely to make the Burgman Street more expensive by around Rs 6,500. For reference, the BS4 model retails at Rs 71,002 (ex-showroom Delhi). As for the MotoGP edition, we expect Suzuki to charge a small sum of Rs 500 to Rs 700 for the livery.

Everve Motors EF1:

The EF1 from Everve Motors, Pune-based startup, was by far the most futuristic and premium-looking electric scooter at Auto Expo 2020. The scooter isn’t all about beauty, though. It’s about brawns too! It packs a 3.3kW electric motor, making it capable of hitting a top speed of 90kmph. It takes 8.73 seconds to reach 60kmph from standstill, which is just 0.46 seconds less than the Ather 450. 

To minimise the downtime while charging, the e-scooter gets removable batteries weighing 12kg each. The battery pack offers a claimed range of 100km and it takes 5 hours to charge completely using a household 5A socket. But using a fast charger, the batteries can be juiced up to 50 per cent in 1.5 hours. Everve plans to launch the scooter by the end of this year. Expect the brand to price the EF1 higher than the likes of the Ather 450X and Bajaj Chetak. If we were to take a guess, we’d say the Everve EF1 could cost around Rs 1.5 lakh (ex-showroom) when launched.

Vespa Racing Sixties:

Vespa gave us a taste of the racing scene in the 60s in the form of the aptly-named colour variant, the Racing Sixties. Draped in a blissfully tasteful looking white bodywork with red and gold stripes, the scooter comes with an equally eye-catching gold-finish for the alloy wheels. 

But apart from the paint scheme, the scooter remains the same as the SXL 150 BS6, both in terms of powertrain and underpinnings. Expect Vespa to price this scooter at around Rs 3,000 over the standard model, which retails at Rs 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom Hyderabad).

Okinawa Cruiser:

The Okinawa Cruiser prototype electric scooter was hands down the most polarising looking scooter at the expo. Not because of its design but because of the all-gold paintwork. But looks are subjective and there may be enthusiasts who dig the paint job. Scheduled to be launched in mid-2020, the Okinawa Cruiser will be the country’s first maxi electric scooter. Expect Okinawa to price it at a little over a Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Okinawa Cruiser comes with a 3kW motor linked to a 4kWh lithium-ion battery. It offers a claimed top speed of 100kmph and a claimed range of 120km on a full charge. These figures are pretty impressive by electric scooter standards. And using fast charging technology, the battery can be charged completely in about 2-3 hours. It also comes with keyless operation, cruise control and an anti-theft alarm.