OEMS Dominate INTERMOT Showfloor
MUNICH — Dozens of powersports vehicle manufacturers attended INTERMOT to showcase their product. OEMs held press conferences during the two days leading up to the event, then allowed attendees to get up close and personal with the product during the remaining five-day show. Below are highlights from a selection of OEMs.
ITALY
Perhaps the most popular press conference at INTERMOT 2004, the Piaggio & Co. SpA event on Sept. 14 was attended by hundreds of journalists from around the world who had come to report what Roberto Colaninno, Piaggio president, and Rocco Sabelli, CFO, had to say about the Aprilia deal.
Colaninno said the addition of Aprilia to the Piaggio Group would create the world’s fourth largest powersports group. With Aprilia, the Piaggio Group would immediately have eight production facilities capable of a production volume of 600,000 vehicles, employ more than 7,000 people, and have a yearly turnover of more than $2 billion.
“Our strategy is to place Piaggio, Aprilia and Guzzi in a single entity,” he said, squashing rumors of a separation between Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. “Yes, Aprilia needs restructuring. But we do not want to divide brands to satisfy creditors. We think Guzzi is a strategic part of our plan.”
A the time, Colaninno said the most important points of Piaggio’s plan for Aprilia included the underwriting of a Euro 50 million capital increase in Aprilia; the payment of Euro 110 million on Aprilia loans; the restructuring of Aprilia credit lines for Euro 70 million ; and the complete repayment of a Euro 100 million Aprilia loan that is due May 2005.
(Editor’s Note: On Sept. 27, Colaninno met with officials from Italian banks UniCredit, Banca Intesa and SanPaolo IMI to reach a final agreement regarding Piaggio’s plan to acquire Aprilia.
The meeting was aimed at modifying some aspects of the plan presented by Piaggio in order to give further guarantees to the banks. The minimum guarantee for the loans extended by the banks, originally fixed at Euro 22 million, has been increased to Euro 37 million, according to Italian press reports, which also say the Euro 70 million loan which Piaggio is to restructure will rise to Euro 80 million. The banks are expected to approve the operation and give it the green light in an indefinite period.)
Sales by Piaggio USA were 7.5 million Euro in 2003 and 11.4 million Euro in 2004. Piaggio USA imports and distributes Vespa and Piaggio brand scooters. Colaninno affirmed that Aprilia’s knowledge in certain sectors would help Piaggio break into full-sized off/on-road motorcycles. “Piaggio needs motorcycles in its range, and Aprilia and Guzzi are the perfect compliment,” he said. “In fact, in the U.S., we have to add motorcycles to effectively penetrate the market.”
Ducati showed two new models at INTERMOT. The first was the Monster S2R. Available as of Nov. ’04, with a Dark version scheduled for release in January 2005, the S2R supposedly delivers 77hp out of its 800cc Desmo engine.
The second bike revealed was the Multistrada 620, sibling to the older 1,000cc Multistrada. Outfitted with the same engine found in the Monster, the Multistrada 620 also will come in a Dark. Both versions are scheduled for release in February 2005.
Federico Minoli, Ducati President and CEO, talked about the new models, the company’s financial results and the Aprilia deal.
Minoli said if Piaggio did not obtain 100% of Aprilia, incuding Moto Guzzi and special projects, Ducati would be willing to split the package. Perhaps most notable in his presentation, Minoli said Ducati would be interested in obtaining only the Aprilia off-road project or only Moto Guzzi. He wouldn’t expand on the reference to off-road product.
Officials at Aprilia acknowledged that the company attended INTERMOT after a particularly challenging year.
While critics may say the Aprilia exhibition showed little in way of exciting new product — “The bikes have lots of flash but the company has no cash,” one foreign journalist commented wryly — the company did in fact launch a number of new models during 2004 and continues to research and design product for 2005 and beyond.
Things from Aprilia to keep an eye on include the on-going SXV project entering the Supermoto scene; the recently-revealed Scarabeo 500 ABS; the 2005 RSV 1000 featuring design and technical tweaks; the new Pegaso 650 Strada, which swaps a liquid-cooled Rotax powerplant for an air-cooled Yamaha; the new Sportcity scooter, introduced in the Italian market and now available throughout Europe; and the Atlantic Fuel Cell, a hydrogen-powered scooter developed in partnership with Swiss firm Mes-Dea.
Proton-financed MV Agusta showed its slightly updated F4/Brutale and Cagiva Raptor; Bimota showed its visually captivating DB5, which took home a Motorcycle Design Association prize; and Benelli’s booth was filled with a number of different versions of its TnT and Tornado.
GERMANY
Munich represents BMW’s home territory, which probably didn’t come as a surprise to visitors of the company’s massive display at INTERMOT.
Dr. Herbert Diess, president of BMW Motorrad, said the manufacturer is going through a period of transition, “making significant up-front investments on the introduction of new models.”
Diess said models such as the R 1200 GS, which sold 12,000 units in the six months since its March introduction, have buoyed company’s expectations for new models, and he said upcoming models such as the K 1200 S, first presented in Munich in July, “clearly reveals the ongoing development” of the company’s sportbikes.
While the U.S. isn’t scheduled to take delivery of BMW’s K1200 S until early 2005, the first batch of big sportbikes were delivered to 36 dealers in the UK and Southern Ireland on September 25.
U.S. MSRP for the K 1200 S has not yet been revealed by the manufacturer, but the bike — available in Indigo Blue Metallic/Alpine White, and Sun Yellow non-Metallic/White Aluminium/Dark Graphite Metallic — is priced at £9750 in the UK. That’s $17,380 to us Yanks.
How will BMW continue its model range?
Don’t expect to see the R 1200 C and CL in 2006. The seven-year-old cruiser has sold roughly 40,000 units since first introduced, and will enter its final year in 2005.
This is due to technical considerations, according to Diess, who explained: “The new engine you know from the GS is designed con-sist-ently for low weight and therefore — quite intentionally — offers only a small margin for an increase in engine displacement. And since the trend in the cruiser segment has now been pointing far beyond 1400cc for quite some time, a Cruiser in its former, classic style with a smaller engine would no longer fit into our concept for the future.
Diess said BMW already built a supply of R 1200 C models for 2005. He said opening production capacity at the Berlin plant will be filled with other Boxer models.
The company then unveiled a naked bike based on the technical features of the K 1200 S. Diess said the bike, formally titled the K 1200 R “is intended to stimulate and reach groups of customers who so far have not considered a BMW.” It is expected to be introduced in the second half of ’05.
Karl Schmidt, head of marketing at Malaysian-owned and Germany-based MZ, said the two-cylinder MZ 1000S received revamped software since the company first allowed the press to ride it in Germany late last year.
The MZ 1000S was shown at the Dealer Expo in Indianapolis for the past three years. Powersports Business asked John Stoddart, new general manager for Florida-based MZ importer Motorrad of North America, about the delay in getting the 1000 to market.
“You’ll never see something like that happen again,” Stoddart replied. He said false-starts didn’t necessarily sour expectant dealers and consumers, however. At the time, Stoddart said three containers were on the water and that all of the machines within them were spoken for.
Schmidt also took the opportunity to introduce MZ’s next liter bike, the MZ 1000SF (Street Fighter), which is slated for availability in April 2005 as an early ‘06.
R. Vasuthewan, joint managing director of MZ, told Powersports Business that MZ recently sold 500 of its 125SX to the French military, and soon plans to build a quad in Taiwan powered by a 125cc MZ-designed engine.
UK
Triumph held its Global Dealer Conference in London over Labor Day. There, the company revealed models set to enter the U.S. in 2005 through Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. of Newnan, Ga. They include a redesigned Sprint ST, a new Speed Triple, a Daytona 650, and a Bonneville T100 and Speedmaster reformatted with the 865cc lump from the ‘04 Thruxton.
At INTERMOT, Triumph New Product Development Manager Ross Clifford chaired the Triumph press conference. He said the new Sprint ST and new Speed Triple are both to enter production in early 2005, with delivery set for approximately March. An ABS version of the ST will follow mid-summer.
The Sprint ST has a 123bhp, 1050CC 3-cylinder engine contained in an all-new aluminum frame. The chassis is wrapped in new bodywork, and features triple projector headlights and an underseat exhaust with three distinctive tail pipes. ABS and integrated luggage will be optional, as will tank bags, an aero screen, sport exhaust, gel seat and a satellite navigation system with headphones.
Clifford said the 2005 Speed Triple has a design emphasis lifted from aftermarket customs often seen in Italy — where, in fact, 14% of all previous Triumph Speed Triple were sold. Changes to the decade-old nameplate start at the new 45mm upside-down fork and lead back to the 180/55 rear tire. Claimed output is 128 bhp @ 9100rpm, and 78 lb. ft. @ 5,100rpm. Available accessories include fly screen, seat cowl, silencers, gel seat, tank bags and an alarm.
As previously reported, the Daytona 650 enters production in October. The engine has been bumped to 646cc and supposedly produces 112bhp at 12,500rpm, and 51lb. ft. of torque at 11,500rpm — an 11% improvement.
The remainder of the Triumph line has been enhanced with a number of new features colors, and dozens of new items have been added to Triumph’s clothing and accessories lines as well.
AUSTRIA
The introduction of KTM’s 990 Superduke production model and the positioning of KTM in the street segment is the main focus for KTM at INTERMOT and for the upcoming business year, a KTM spokesman told the crowd assembled for the Austrian manufacturer’s press conference.
The company revealed a 950cc V-Twin powered Supermoto; the 990cc SuperDuke; and the Venom, a variation of its RC8 that is slated for 2007. The unveiling of the bikes resulted in a severe press scrum, and the KTM booth looked to be one of the best attended at the show.
The second focus point of INTERMOT for KTM was showing the further development of its off-road engines and chassis. For 2005, all MINI models get a new graphic design, with KTM lettering featuring silver shadowing. The 200 SX won’t be returning for ’05, but all other SX models receive Renthal handlebars, Brembo brakes, Excel rims and hydraulic clutches.
UNITED STATES
Dr. Christian Arnezeder, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson GmbH, was joined by Bill Davidson, H-D director of Motorcycle Product Development; Louis Netz, H-D Vice President and Director of Styling; and Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company.
Buell placed its new XB9SX Lightning CityX on display, and Harley showed its FLSTNI Softail Deluxe, FLSTSCI Softail Springer Classic and FXDCI Dyna Super Glide Custom.
Polaris’ Tom Tiller, Mike Dougherty and Bennett Morgan were on-hand, too. Representing Polaris and Victory product, the crew from Minnesota said their 2005 Hammer and ATVs were proving to be popular attractions.
JAPAN
Honda Europe Motorcycle S.R.L. revealed the new 2005 motorcycle models for the European market. One of the stars at the Honda booth was the FMX650, a supermoto built on a XR650. Honda also showed its new CBR600RR, a revamped CB1300 retro, and the 50cc Zoomer — a scoot introduced to us last year as the Ruckus For Europe only, the new FMX650 is a dual sport model featuring an air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, 650cc engine and super motard styling. The bike is manufactured by Honda affiliate Montesa Honda S.A. of Spain, and annual European sales are projected to reach 7,000 units.
Honda projects annual European sales of its ’05 CBR600RR to be approximately 12,000 units. As revealed at Honda’s recent U.S. dealer show, the bike — first introduced in 2003 — has been revamped for ‘05 with a lighter frame and improved suspension.
Also foreign to U.S. consumers, the 2005 CB1300 and CB1300 ABS are scheduled to be released in European markets staring in spring 2005. The combined annual European sales for the two bikes are projected to reach 2,000 units.
As for the Zoomer, Honda says it expects to sell approximately 5,000 units.
Introduced in as a concept in 1999, the Yamaha known as the MT-01 lorded over the company’s booth on a raised turntable bathed in floodlights. Yamaha didn’t deliver a price, but confirmed dealers in Europe can expect deliveries of the 1700cc V-Twin in ’05.
Yamaha also previewed a number of other models we won’t be getting in the U.S. For instance, the “R46” Valentino Rossi edition of the 2005 R6, the BT1100 Bulldog, the XT660X supermoto, a line of 125cc dual-purpose bikes, and 10 scooters.
Product more familiar to Americans included off-road vehicles such as the Grizzly, Kodiak and Bruin quads and the Rhino Side x Side.
Suzuki Motor Corp.’s German division, Suzuki Motor GmbH Deutschland, bowed to supersport fans with the new GSXR1000, bumped the Bandit/S up to 650cc, showcased its new Intruder M800 cruiser, revealed the Europe-only street-legal DR-Z 400SM supermoto, and introduced Europeans to the RM-Z 450.
At Kawasaki, crowds were drawn to the showcased ZX-6, ZX-6RR and Z750S.
—Guido Ebert
