Benelli Imperiale 400 is a retro-styled cruiser unveiled at EICMA 2017; expected to launch in India in the middle of next year
Italian bike manufacturer Benelli unveiled its all-new Imperiale 400 cruiser at the recently concluded EICMA 2017 in Milan, Italy. The retro styled cruiser is expected to arrive in Indian market sometime in the middle part of next year as we reported already and it will throw tough challenge to the Royal Enfield Classic 350 for sure.
We can expect it to appear at the 2018 New Delhi Auto Expo in February next year. DSK Benelli had already announced its plan of launching a 400 cc motorcycle here and the Imperiale 400 fits the bill perfectly. However, to become competitive against the very popular Royal Enfield Classic 350, this model needs to be priced aggressive and initially Benelli will be trying to achieve that by bringing it into the country via CKD route.
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For a competitive price of around Rs. 2 lakh (ex-showroom), it will be locally assembled. As the brand expects it to the best-seller, its price could be further slashed when expected sales target is met, by manufacturing it completely locally. Speaking about the styling of Benelli Imperiale 400, it comes wearing a retro stance visible from all angle. The Imperiale badge has been taken from an old 125 cc motorcycle. This motorcycle gets a classic round shaped headlamp with chrome finished bezel flanked by round shaped retro turn indicators. The twin-pod instrument cluster analog display with a sleek and short LCD display as well.
The wide handlebars come offering greater control over the machine. It gets chrome garnished wing mirrors, a large and fatty fuel tank with black thigh padding. The spacious and well cushioned rider seat and pillion seat offers comfortable seating experience. Rear gets a retro styled taillight flanked by classic turn indicators and there is a blackened grab rail as well.
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The exhaust and chrome finished shiny engine block looks typically similar as the Royal Enfield machines. Enhancing the classic styling further, the Benelli Imperiale 400 comes running on multi-spoke wheels and the mudguards gets chrome treatment. Benelli offers panniers with this model as option. For braking duty, the motorcycle gets disc brakes at both front and rear. Also, there is a dual-channel ABS on offer as standard that makes the machine safer.
The motorcycle comes weighing 200 kg and its 12-litre capacity fuel tank ensures a moderate range without refueling. Suspension duty is done by telescopic front forks and double shock absorbers at rear and it is built on a double cradle steel tube frame. Power source for the motorcycle is a 373.5 cc single-cylinder, SOHC, fuel injected engine that is paired with a 5-speed transmission. The engine is capable of kicking out 19 bhp of peak power at 5,500 rpm and 28 Nm of peak torque at 3,500 rpm.
The power and torque configuration could be revised as you can see it is at a big disadvantage over the Royal Enfield Classic 350. The Benelli Imperiale 400 is reported to be entering for ARAI certification by March next year before going on sale in the middle of 2018. As part of expanding its offering, DSK Benelli will also introduce the on-road focussed variants of the Leoncino scrambler and TRK 502 in India in the due course of next year through CKD route with competitive pricing.
Benelli Imperiale 400 India Images
Source: ACI