With so many hopeful expectations in 2018 after a turbulent year, Hero MotoCorp issued an assurance (of sort) to its mass clientele that their core DNA would not go with the wind. The company introduced the updated versions of their bread-and-butter sub-brands – Splendor and Passion, with improvements where it matters while retaining the key product identifiers. The three new products are, 2018 Hero Super Splendor, 2018 Hero Passion Pro and Hero Passion X Pro.
The most powerful version of the Hero Splendor brand which is the top selling in the world, the Super Splendor, is now all the more powerful, efficient and stylish. The body gets a revised trapezoidal headlamp, redesigned side panels, fresh graphics, smart LED tail lamp, and the like. The upmarket feel of the bike is augmented by black finish on alloy wheels, engine and exhaust. The functional improvements include widened seat for rider and pillion, wider rear tyre, and larger under seat storage.
The bike also features Side Stand Indicator, All Time Headlamp On (AHO), 13-litre fuel tank and an additional storage unit in front beneath the fuel tank for storing documents or the like. Such an array of practical features are what contributed to the brand in remaining the best seller (in volume) among all segments. All those renovations are carried out while keeping together the conservative design theme, which conveys the lineage of the sub-brand in the context of its value and reliability.
The 2018 Super Splendor gets a seriously spruced up motor that delivers 27% more power and 6% more torque compared to its previous engine. The 125cc TOD (Torque-on-Demand) engine remains an Air-Cooled, 4-stroke single Cylinder OHC unit, but engineering revisions has taken the peak power output to 11.4 PS (8.4 KW) at 7,500 rpm and peak torque to 11 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The four-speed constant-mesh gearbox remains the same, and the top speed is 94 kmph.
This has made the engine very peppy and energetic at all speeds, and yet the refinement is remarkable as always. The motor doesn’t feel stressed out at higher speeds, and engine noise is kept well under control. The ride and handling is very similar to that of the earlier version of Super Splendor, which we have been expecting an improvement on, though it’s not a great concern for purpose the bike is built for. Braking is soft and sufficient as usual. In conclusion, the 2018 Super Splendor is a truly a superior product than its previous version in almost every aspect.
The youthful avatar of what’s fundamentally the Splendor, the Hero Passion Pro, has gotten younger now with the string of updates to its skin as well as its heart.
The new Passion Pro is 12% more powerful and torquey than its previous version, thanks to the revised engine meeting BS-IV requirements. The 110cc TOD (Torque on Demand) engine produces a maximum power of 9.4 PS (7 KW) at 7,500 rpm and peak torque of 9.0 Nm at 5,500 rpm. The 2018 Passion Pro does 0-60 kmph in 7.45 seconds.
The other updates on the latest Passion Pro include a new muscular fuel tank with flush type cap, a stylish digital-analog meter console with fuel gauge, odd and trip meters in digital form while speedo and side stand indicator in analog, All Time Headlamp On (AHO), and a fresh tail lamp. The motorcycle is available with the option of Drum or Disc brake at the front. Hero’s i3S technology is offered on this model as standard feature.
Overall, the new colour theme with the new graphics, wider seat profile and the all-black hardware below the belt make the Passion Pro appealing to a wider audience range now. Even the ride comfort and handling of the new version is admirable for a bike in its segment. Yet, much like the Super Splendor, the Passion Pro is still reminiscent of the older models, which in this case while targeting a younger customer base may or may not be a selling point for the sub-brand, especially when the Hero Splendor 110 is getting more modern in its evolution.
The Passion X Pro is essentially a sharper looking Passion Pro with a little more bells and whistles. It has a larger and a more attention seeking headlamp with a pair of pilot lamps, a sleek bikini fairing, pointy turn indicators with clear lens cover, dual colour rear view mirror caps, handlebar extensions, a sporty fuel tank with shrouds, and a custom tail lamp with an X shaped glow.
Most of the remaining hardware are the same as the Passion Pro, like the five spoke alloy wheels, front fork, rear suspension setup, engine, exhaust (save for the muffler cover plate) and tubeless tyres, so the smoothness, power delivery, handling and braking characteristics of the Passion X Pro are not different from its donor model.
The X Pro though longer and more premium compared to Hero’s other 110 cc offerings, has a smaller fuel tank capacity of just 9.5 litres. The mileage figures of the Passion Pro and X Pro are not revealed by the company, but it is safe to assume that they would return 55 to 60 kmpl on an average. The i3S technology and front disc brake are available on the Passion X Pro.
If you’re looking for any two wheeler in the 110 and 125 cc segments, you would no doubt be spoilt for choice, but if you’re looking to shop in the Hero Store for sure, you can rest assured that you’d be getting a far better product than what you would’ve purchased a few months ago.
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This post was last modified on November 19, 2019 1:35 pm