NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler major Hero Honda’s move to launch a new Splendour at a marginally higher price has come as a surprise to industry watchers who expect competition in the 100cc motorcycles segment to increase in the coming months.

The company has strapped the new Splendour NXG with a new engine, sleek exteriors and claims better fuel efficiency. The new vehicle is dearer by Rs 1,000 in the Spoke variant and Rs 2,000 in the cast variant from the existing Splendour Plus.

Hero Honda’s launch of a new variant of its largest selling bike comes just when arch rival Bajaj Auto is planning to drive in a new motorcycle platform to help existing 100cc customers upgrade. This is widely expected to unleash a price war in the 100 cc bike segment.

Hero Honda top brass, however, brushed aside suggestions that the new bike was a part of the two-wheeler major’s plan to introduce products at every available niche in the 100 cc segment to thwart competition. Pawan Munjal, managing director, Hero Honda, said, “We are not looking at gimmicky introductions at various cc points. We are in constant touch with the consumer’s needs and aspirations and keeping these in mind new vehicles will continue to be launched.

The launch of Splendour NXG offers a unique package of styling and irresistible features to our customers”.