Re: Intermot 2018: Suzuki to revive the iconic Katana nameplate with a brand new launch Quote:
Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR Katana will only arrive next year, if at all it does. |
That is a big IF.
In my humble opinion, the biggest challenge for the Katana in India would be the pricing wrt. the 2020 MY Ninja 1000. The 2020 Ninja 1000 is poised to decimate the market in the 1000cc Inline 4 segment, when it gets launched. It gets a fully adjustable front/rear suspension, a comprehensive suite of electronics (IMU-based ABS, Power Modes, TFT display) along with a pretty comfortable pillion seat/wind protection. The Katana doesn't get any of these features. Where it does score over the Ninja 1000 is the kerb weight (Katana 215kg vs. 2020 Ninja 1000 235 kg).
The GSX-S1000 (which the Katana is based on) was launched as a CBU in India and was pretty much dead-on-arrival with the astronomical pricing.
Even the 2020 MY USA pricing of the Katana defies logic. The Katana costs $13,500 whereas the 2020 Ninja 1000 costs $12,400 (base MSRP, destination charges are extra). I wonder why anyone would prefer the Katana over the Ninja 1000 unless one is bowled over by the styling of the Katana, which makes for a pretty small target audience to begin with.
Unless Suzuki manages to go the CKD route in India and price the Katana around 9 lacs ex-showroom (undercut the Ninja 1000 by ~1.5 lacs), I don't see any reason for buyers to prefer the Katana over the Ninja 1000.
Suzuki needs to get it's head out of the mud, it's not going to be able to sell the Katanas with such myopic pricing.
Last edited by GoBlue : 19th February 2020 at 13:02.
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