By TARO W
Indiantelevision.com Team

BANGALORE: Hero Honda Motors launched their new model 'Glamour' along with the corresponding new 'g' logo to ensure leadership position in the growing premium deluxe segment. A change from the traditional, was that Glamour was a South India only launch as against the previous all India launches of yore. The bike for now will be available only in the Southern part of the country.

During the launch, Hero Honda Motors chairman Brijmohan Lall says, " I am sure 'Glamour' will further strengthen our leadership position in the premium deluxe segment which is currently witnessing a high growth and will continue to do so in coming years."

Lall stated that additionally two new offerings, one a scooter and the other a power segment motorcycle, would be launched in the market towards this year-end. He, however, refused to divulge any further information.

The aesthetics of the motorcycle were designed keeping in mind the desires of customers in this segment after a research study. Glamour sports a next-gen visor to lend it a suitable persona and an aerodynamic look, which has been further strengthened by the contemporary shape of multi-reflector winkers. The motorcycle comes equipped with a big and elegantly contoured fuel-tank, which enables the rider to have a comfortable leg position.

The flush-type lock on the fuel tank is apparently first-of-its-kind in this segment. It also adorns a new tripod instrument panel. The Glamour model comes with the 125 cc 'Quantum Core' engine has been developed specially for Indian customers and is set to consolidate Hero Honda's leadership in the fast growing deluxe segment of the two-wheeler industry in the country according to the company officials.

Glamour is available in four variants - drum/kick, drum/self, disc/kick, disc/self and in 10 colors including new and first time shades like impulse orange and vibrant green metallic priced at
Rs 44,500 (Drum + Kick version Bangalore ex-showroom).

The motorcycle will be available through Hero Honda's wide sales network of almost 2000 sales and service points, which include over 500 dealerships spread across the country.

JWT, FCB Ulka and Percept are handling the creatives. Hero Honda Motors head marketing P S Sunder revealed that the ad spends were Rs 1.5 billion, of which only 25 per cent goes towards the print media while the remaining 75 per cent will be spent on all other business promotional activities.

Hero Honda has a 45 per cent piece of the market pie in South India as against a 50 per cent portion nationally. Of this a major chunk of sales would probably be to the rural areas, which are generally supplied and serviced by the nearest city or town. Besides, the motor major is confident of exporting 100,000 bikes across all their models to Columbia, Peru, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Middle East this year as against 65,000 last year and about 150,000 next year to these countries. Currently Hero Honda exports 10,000 bikes every month to these countries, of which about 4000 two-wheelers go to Columbia alone.

Lall also announced the setting up of a new manufacturing plant - the third one - at an undecided location, with investments of Rs 5 billion over the next three years, of which Rs 3 billion would be the initial spend.