Mahindra 2 Wheelers recently gave us a sneak preview of their ‘all-new’ 110cc motorcycles, the Centuro and Pantero which are due for launch in the second half of January 2013.Looking past the new body decals, it seemed to be a case of badge-engineering as the Pantero looks the same as their dysfunctional Stallio, but as we found out later, there is more to it than meets the eye. Mahindra first launched the Stallio 110cc commuter motorcycle towards the end of 2010 but it had a short life as the bike couldn’t match up to the standard of its rivals in terms of quality and performance. Last year, Mahindra launched a refurbished Stallio but it failed to survive yet again due to the same issues.
The company then decided to scrap the model completely and build their own bikes. Mahindra 2 Wheelers established a brand new R&D centre in Pune last year and the Pantero is one of the first two motorcycles developed at the facility. It is powered by their new 106.7cc MCI-5 (Micro Chip Ignited 5 Curve) engine mounted in a new chassis, however, the Stallio’s design was largely retained due to the positive reviews received for it.
There are a few cosmetic changes like the all black coat of the new engine, the new body decals and of course, the badge which now reads Pantero while the only functional change we noticed was the redesigned seat, which is longer and wider. For any other salient tweaks, we will have to compare it with the 2012 Stallio standing in the Bike India garage. The Pantero’s engine has a power output of 8.5 PS and a maximum torque of 8.5 Nm. It is mated to a four speed (all-up shift) transmission and Mahindra have claimed an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 79.4 km/l.
The bike has telescopic forks up front while the rear suspension is taken care by the 5-step adjustable twin shocks with springs and the stopping power is provided by the drum brakes on both the wheels. The Pantero will have four variants which will feature different set of equipment each. Pricing remains a crucial matter but it will be available only when the bike is launched in the second half of January. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the prices and read the February issue of Bike India for a more elaborate feedback.
Contrary to the expectations, Mahindra 2 Wheelers has unveiled one more motorcycle along with the Pantero. The other motorcycle is named as Centuro and it is based on the same 110cc MCI-5 engine powering the Pantero. However, the Centuro has a different frame and a distinct design. The 106.7cc engine powering the Centuro produces 8.5 PS of power and 8.5 Nm of torque like the Pantero and also has the same 4-speed transmission but there are a few mechanical changes in the units powering the two bikes.
The Centuro has a digital information display and a special flip-key with features like an LED light, engine immobilser and remote locking capabilities for which the company has registered 5 patents. The Centuro will be slightly expensive than its slimmer sibling and will be launched in the first half of 2013. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information on the Centuro and read the February issue for our first ride report.
Story: Piyush Sonsale
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
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