Royal Enfield reveals 650 cc engine ahead of EICMA
06 Nov 2017
Royal Enfield has revealed the much anticipated 650cc parallel twin-engine, which will power the two new Royal Enfield motorcycles that will be showcased at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan on 7 November. It was earlier reported that the motorcycles will be powered by 750cc.
According to a report in Overdrive, the new motorcycles are still in pre-production stage and will make their market debut in India by April 2018. The company has also expanded its export activities out of its plants from Chennai.
According to the report, the company might go with the 'Interceptor' name on its first ever global all-new motorcycles.
The 650cc parallel twin-engine will debut with the new motorcycles. The 4-valves per cylinder SOHC fuel-injected engine is expected to deliver power of 47PS and 52 Nm of torque. The exact displacement of the engine will be 648cc.
According to the company, it customers for the 650 twin will be a mix of current customers upgrading as also new first-time buyers.
The engine is designed to strike a balance between markets across the world. The intermediate range engine is aimed at giving an option for European riders who cannot drive any available bikes from RE range due to their lower maximum speed.
Developed at the company's UK Technical Centre in Leicester, the biggest bike in the Royal Enfield portfolio yet will come as the company looks to gain entry into the mainstream of global motorcycle market and offer the model as an upgrade to over 2.5 million Royal Enfield owners in India.
ET was the first to break the story in March 2016.
According to Siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO of Eicher Motors, who confirmed this to ET, this is a new phase in the history of Royal Enfield and the twin-cylinder bike is first real global bike developed from ground-up by the company.
"From a niche position that we are currently in the evolved markets, the twin cylinder bike will pull Royal Enfield into the consideration set of the mainstream market and in India, it will be an ideal upgrade for Royal Enfield owners," Lal said, ET reported.