Honda Dio 125 is expected to be the next scooter launch from the brand taking advantage of the nameplate’s popularity among the youth
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has released two teaser videos of its upcoming scooter so far. It is expected to be a sporty offering appealing to youth customers and thus it could be positioned in the 125 cc segment to compete against TVS Ntorq 125 and Suzuki Avenis. Perhaps, it could go as far as rivalling Yamaha Aerox 155 and Aprilia Scooters.
The Japanese two-wheeler giant has made sure that the teaser videos do not reveal many details but its aggressive design cues can be seen with sharp lines and an edgy front apron. Speculations surrounding the debut of an all-new cruiser based on the CB350 platform have existed in recent times as the motorcycle is said to debut before the end of this year.
An all-new entry-level sporty naked motorcycle has also been rumoured along with two electric scooters next FY. Back to the scooter in question, the first teaser video gives us a glimpse of the body panels indicating that it could be based on the existing Dio. It is worth noting that the H-Smart variant of the Dio debuted only a few weeks ago in India.
While the sneak peek of the headlamp keeps us perplexed, the second teaser video goes on to show that it gets a throatier exhaust amidst a silent engine start. This further fuels the suspicion that it will be a 125 cc scooter. The Honda Dio has been on sale in the domestic market for well over two decades and it has been well received by young customers.
Thus, utilising the popularity of the nameplate for an all-new scooter boasting sporty characteristics only makes sense in our opinion. We do expect Honda to release more teasers ahead of its eventual market launch, which is confirmed to happen soon. It will join the Activa 125 and Grazia 125 as the third 125 cc scooter from the company.
However, it will more likely be priced at a premium over its siblings. The existing 124 cc single-cylinder engine develops 8.2 hp and 10.4 Nm and it could be uprated to compete firmly against its rivals in the 125 cc sporty scooter space.