Hero MotoCorp's new identity

We all were gazing the sky in anticipation of what the outcome would be of a divorce of a successful relationship of stellar proportion, how would either party take it and more over, how the bride of this relationship react to it. Well, the bride, the Hero Group took the challenge in full spirit (at least it looked like so) and decided to go all out about it. It was said that the Hero Group would launch it's new corporate identity on 9th August, 2011. Sticking to the said schedule, the Hero Group launched it's new corporate brand identity in a glittering (or should I say melodramatic) cerimony in London, which saw celebrity presence like Shah Rukh Khan, Akon, Boris Baker, Anushka Sharma etc. So, did Hero Group reveal it's new brand identity - the new Company Logo? By God's grace, YES!!

In one go, it's pretty difficult to identify what the logo is and how it's associated with Hero, but a careful look suggests that it's a 3-D redering of the letter "H". It might look radical, but in my personal opinion, a brand logo should be radical, stylish, but at the same time, represent the parent company in a very effortless and smooth manner. The target customer should be able to identify and relate to the logo, which in case, would take some getting used to.

But from a motorcyclist's point of view, the main star of the attraction was the Hero MotoCorp's Impulse, the new dual-purpose motorcycle on the offering from the new company's stable. We've seen it's first spy pics already, and the motorcycle shown during the launch resembles the spy pics to the fullest.

Hero MotoCorp's Impulse
A first from any Indian motorcycle manufacturer in recent times (the first being Bajaj who ventured into this territory ages ago), the Impulse belongs to dual-purpose or the off-road genre of motorcycles. Though much technical spec is not yet available for the motorcycle, some the easily identifiable features include -

1. Up-swept front and rear fenders
2. Relaxed seating
3. Parallel exhaust (the exhaust running almost parallel to the seat)
4. Clear glass turn signals
5. Tank Extension scoops
6. Trapezoidal clear head lamps (looks taken directly from the Karizma with a change of scale)

But more than anything else, the bike looks like a parting gift from Honda to the Hero Group as this so called new motorcycle from Hero MotoCorp, isn't all that new after all. With a little ground work, we can easily trace the gene pool of the Honda NXR 150 Bros. So, knowing the NXR would give us a fair bit of idea about how the Impulse is going to be which basically based on the same engine platform of the oh so smooth Unicorn.

Specifications of the 2011 Honda NXR 150 Bros

Engine : Air-cooled, four stroke, single cylinder, OHC.

Capacity : 149.2 cc

Bore x Stroke : 83 X 60mm

Induction : PGM-Fi electronic fuel injection system

Ignition/Starting : CDI

Max Power : 13.8 HP @ 8,000 rpm

Max Torque : 13.62 Nm @ 6,000 rpm

Transmission/Drive : 5 Speed / chain

Front Suspension : Telescopic fork, 180mm stroke

Rear Suspension : Monoshock, 150mm stroke

Front Brakes : 240mm disc

Rear Brakes : Drum 110mm

Front Tyre : 120/70ZR17

Rear Tyre : 160/60ZR17

Dry-Weight : 118 kg

Fuel Capacity : 12 Liters (including reserve)

Hero MotoCrop launch pic courtesy : Overdrive