By Honda is planning to expand the 160 cc segment with the introduction of a new SP160 based on the Unicorn. The company already has SP125 in its lineup and this new model is going to be placed above it. The 160cc segment is fierce as all the manufacturers have a presence in it with more than one type of model while Honda is not competing in the premium end as they are looking at the entry 160 cc segment which is for buyers who are upgrading from 125 cc segment.
The chassis will be shared with the existing Unicorn as it will keep costs down but the styling is going to be different as they want to differentiate both these models visually as the styling will be simple which will be more like a grown-up commuter model. The engine will be shared with the Unicron 160 as it is the 162.7cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which is OBD2 compliant as it produces 12.9 HP at 7500 RPM and 14 Nm torque at 5500 RP. This engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
We can expect the engine and gearbox to be tuned for efficiency. The suspension will be simpler with telescopic forks at the front and normal shocks at the rear. The braking duties will be taken care by a 276 mm disc at the front and a 220 mm disc at the rear which is optional as the SP160 also gets a 130 mm drum. The wheels are 17-inch units and the weight will be 2 kgs higher than the standard Unicorn. We can expect Honda to launch SP160 during the festival season.
