Honda may launch Metropolitan scooter in India to rival Yamaha Fascino

It looks like two-wheeler manufacturer Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) is looking at the possibility of bringing a retro-scooter to the Indian market. MotorBeam reports that Honda has patented the Metropolitan in India, hinting at the arrival of the model.

The Indian two-wheeler market currently has the Vespa and Yamaha Fascino in the retro-scooter segment and the competition will heat up the segment if Honda decides to push ahead with the Metropolitan. Although, the engine and other details about the Metropolitan in India are not known yet, reports suggest that the scooter could use the Activa 109.2cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine in India. The Metropolitan, which is already on sales in the international markets, is powered by a 50cc fuel-injected four-stroke single-cylinder engine. The Metropolitan gets classy touch with retro-cool design.

In India, Honda Metropolitan scooter is likely to be positioned below the Activa 125. Honda has been at the forefront when it comes to trialling with the new models. The best example of this is Honda's recently launched new kind of two-wheeler -- the Navi. The Navi, a model styled like a bike with convenience of a scooter, seems to have ticked all the right boxes in the market. With the arrival of the Metropolitan retro-scooter too, Honda would be looking to expand its foothold in the new segments.

Although it is too early to comment on the pricing of the Metropolitan, various reports indicate that Honda would be looking to market it as a premium product.