Benelli Imperiale India Launch Confirmed; To Rival Jawa & Royal Enfield

Benelli Imperiale 400 has been confirmed for launch in India, with most happening time frame being the last quarter of 2019 or if late by any reason, the first quarter of 2020. The motorcycle is now claimed to be a Royal Enfield rival, clearly taking Jawa into consideration as well. The resurrection of Benelli after the split with DSK MotoWheels has proven to be a success-filled affair for the brand, with TRK 502 and 502X taking the centre stage for those who love adventure on two wheels. The report of Benelli Imperiale India launch has been made official by the Managing Director of the brand.

The retro-modern product from Benelli is a direct rival to Royal Enfield Classic series, with price expectations posing a threat to the 500cc motorcycles from the Indian brand. However, in terms of monthly sales, the number of units registered by 500cc Royal Enfield motorcycles is much lower than their 350cc options. Benelli is offering the same 19-inch front and 18-inch rear tire combination, with power and torque values exactly similar to the Classic 350. Benelli Imperiale’s 373.5cc engine is good for a maximum power of 20 HP and maximum torque of 28 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

The Benelli Imperiale 400 weighs around 200kg and pricing the same under INR 2 lakh can only be possible if the brand considers a high level of localization for the motorcycle. Imperiale 400 comes with a retro-feel through its body design while the engine may be slightly better than Royal Enfield through the use of better technology. Benelli will also launch the scrambler version of Leoncino 500 in India but, the exact time frame has not been revealed yet. The parallel twin engine on the motorcycle will be shared with the TRK 502 and thus, could help them place the same under INR 5 lakh. Benelli currently has no mass market product in its lineup.