Benelli India is in the process of steadily increasing its product portfolio. The Chinese-owned Italian sportsbike brand who had launched the Leoncino 500 recently, has today launched the Leoncino 250 scrambler. This is the most affordable motorcycle in the brand’s Indian lineup, the Leoncino 250 is priced at Rs 2.5 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Bookings are now open at all dealers. You can also book it online for a payment of Rs 6k. 4 colours are on offer – White, Grey, Red and Brown. It comes with best in class 3-Year Unlimited Kilometre Warranty as Standard.
The Benelli Leoncino 250 will have its scrambler body style and Italian design flair as its key selling points. Competition will come from the likes of KTM Duke 250, Mahindra Mojo 300, KTM Duke 390, BMW G310R and so on.
The quarter liter scrambler derives its styling from the bigger engined Leoncino 500 but features elliptical LED headlamp unit instead of a circular one. It also differentiates itself from its sibling by means of dual-tone color theme with flashy graphics. Noteworthy features include LED turn indicators and taillight, fully digital instrument console, the nicely detailed lion mascot on the front fender, a stubby silver finished silencer and a cantilevered tailpiece.
The Benelli Leoncino 250 is underpinned by a trellis frame which is supported by sturdy inverted telescopic front fork and a rear monoshock. The bike sits on 17-inch alloy wheels which are paired with 110/70-R17 front and 150/60-R17 rear tyres. Braking system comprises a petal disc at each wheel, governed by standard dual-channel ABS.
The little Leoncino’s 250 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor is based on the unit which used to power the now-defunct TNT 25. The engine is mated to 6-speed gearbox to develop 25.8 hp and 21.2 Nm of torque (slightly higher than what its predecessor used to make).
Mr. Vikas Jhabakh, MD – Benelli India, said, “The Leoncino 250 is an expression of style. Combining tradition and innovation, the Leoncino 250 is a classic motorcycle redesigned with modern elements and will prove to be a perfect companion for city and long hauls alike. With the launch of the Leoncino 250, we are entering into an affordable superbike segment and are hoping to gain considerable market share in India. Currently, we are witnessing good momentum in terms of overall sales, thanks to our efficient customer service that is helping us build a loyal customer base.”
The Benelli Leoncino 250 is an important addition the company in India. The entry-level medium displacement segment has been showing a lot of potential and has witnessed introduction of an assortment of products in the recent years. Benelli and its Indian partner Mahavir Group are planning to increase the local content in the motorcycles to arrive at a more competitive pricing.
Later this month, Benelli will launch yet another important motorcycle – the Imperiale 400. This will directly take on the Royal Enfield Classic 350. If priced right, this new I400, has the potential to become the best selling Benelli in India.
