Having first unveiled the new Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 at EICMA this month, Royal Enfield will be launching the much talked about twin-cylinder motorcycles in India in the summer of 2018. Royal Enfield CEO Siddhartha Lal confirmed the launch details to carandbike.com at the recently concluded Rider Mania 2017. The new bikes were showcased exclusively to the Royal Enfield community at the event, making their India debut. The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 are completely new models and carry an all-new parallel-twin motor as well. The bikes will also be fueling RE's global ambitions as they aim to make a mark in the middleweight segment.
Also Read: RE Interceptor and Continental GT 650 Unveiled at Rider Mania 2017
(Royal Enfield's new twin-cylinder bikes will arrive in the summer of 2018)
Speaking to carandbike.com, Siddhartha Lal said that the new twin-cylinder motorcycles will be making their way to India in the summer of 2018, soon after the motorcycles go on sale in Europe. The company will be manufacturing twin-cylinder bikes at its Chennai facility and production will be ramped up through the year in a phased manner. Lal also said that the new bikes will be available across all 750 dealerships in the country by the end of 2018.
While India is Royal Enfield's largest market globally with over 25 million motorcycles on road currently, the company plans to tap into the European market first with the two new models The same though has more to do with the riding season there. Explaining the move, Royal Enfield - President, Rudratej (Rudy) Singh said that the company wants to tap the riding season in Europe, which starts around April. It is also when the bike will be launched and will cater to a large demographic which are A2 license holders. A2 licence holders can only ride motorcycles with limited power and capacity, and the Royal Enfield 650 cc motorcycles will fall in that category.
Also Read: Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: All You Need To Know
(RE is aiming to tap the European riding season with a launch around April)
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 comply with the A2 license norms in terms of power and safety tech and Rudy said the company aims to offer old-school motorcycling with a modern heart. The aim is also to bring younger individuals back to motorcycling in Europe that has seen a huge drop in recent times, added Rudy. The company is also looking to tap into other potential markets including Middle-East and South East Asia.
Both the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 have been developed from scratch and will be made to a single-spec for the world. So, the motorcycle sold in India as well as in Europe will be carrying the same specifications and equipment as well. Royal Enfield has already revealed its new 648 cc parallel-twin cylinder engine that gets a SOHC setup with a 270-degree firing order. The motor makes 47 bhp at 7100 rpm and about 52 Nm of peak torque at 4000 rpm. The motor comes with electronic fuel injection and is paired to a 6-speed transmission with slipper clutch. The bikes will also get dual-channel ABS as standard.
Also Read: Royal Enfield Unveils Interceptor & Continental GT 650 At EICMA
(Both 650 motorcycles will be available across all RE dealerships by the end of 2018)
Furthermore, Siddhartha Lal also revealed that the motorcycles will be available in a host of styles after going on sale. While the classic colours - orange and white - were revealed at EICMA, the company also revealed the Chrome versions of the Interceptor and Continental GT 650 at Rider Mania 2017.
RE has kept pricing under wraps for its newest offerings but did say the new bikes will be accessible and well within the reach of most customers. Royal Enfield's 650 twins are expected to be the most affordable twin-cylinder offerings in the country.
