But now Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj has a plan to fully reboot the Avenger, and no I'm not talking about just another update. Instead he says we will get a whole new family of Avengers - a strategy we have seen working for Bajaj with the Pulsar and Discover. The new Avenger family will no doubt sport various engines too, and so will not simply be variants of the same bike. They will also be differing in attribute and features - which will be brought home by differences in styling too. For starters expect the current Avenger to get the new 200 cc heart that we first saw on the Pulsar NS 200 and then the RS 200. The engine will be tuned differently to provide a greater cruising feel, with longer gears and a rumbly engine note too. The bike will be designed for longer ridding and will not focus as much on acceleration as on cruising.
Also Read: Does the Bajaj Avenger Range Offer the Most Affordable Cruiser Bikes in India?
But then comes the bigger surprise - an Avenger strictly for the city dweller who doesn't want to roam too far. A bike that Bajaj would like to see generate volumes, which also means a more attractive price tag. And a bike that the buyer could choose as his or her daily ride too. Enter the 150cc Avenger! Yes the focus on this bike will be on cruiser style, with dare I say commuter convenience! This is the product with which Bajaj wants to take the Avenger into a more mainstream place, with higher volumes for sure - and a clear city-cruiser personality. Before you balk at the plan - consider the early success Bajaj has had with the not-really-a-tourer Adventure Series from the Pulsar family! There will be a third Avenger as well in the short term, but while Bajaj may showcase the 3rd bike now, sales may begin only later towards the end of the year, or in early 2016. However the company is considering keeping the current 220cc Avenger as a 3rd option in the short-term. But expect to see the new Avenger family as early as next week - with price announcements and start of bookings on both the 150 and 200.
Also Read: Upcoming Bajaj Bikes in India
The plan for the Avenger family is ambitious, with Bajaj targeting a 5 fold increase in monthly sales of this nameplate. In the first year Bajaj says it wants to hit a monthly average of 20,000 units, but says the potential exists to take that to 25-30,000 within year two. And no - just because they will be called the Avengers, don't ecxpect them to named Hulk, Ironman or Hawkeye - though those could be cool limited editions, eh?
