TVS, whose sales are going down due to the loss of its Two-stroke numbers, is expected to bounce back with this New STAR.It has already garnered around 25% share in the economy segment in tamilnadu which is its fort! Surprising thing was it was launched in North India along with the south at the same time, earlier TVS used to foray into north only after consolidating its position in its home territory i.e. South.
It is part of its strategy to woo back its two-stroke markets by targeting smaller towns with its entry-level Star bike. It has entered what’s traditionally been the market of CT-100 and CD-Dawn. The idea is to generate at least 25, 000 units from what was earlier The MAX R’s market, but this is going to be far easier than said because the entry-level segment boasts of a cut throat competition especially after Bajaj launched its CT-100 which is very aggressively priced to take on the CD-Dawn’s leadership which is now incidentally with Bajaj.The only saving grace is that this segment has recorded a growth of 30% during last year.
To realize its dreams this desi two-wheeler manufacturer has roped in the former managing director of Hyundai for its local manufacturing of two-wheelers in South Asia. With Star already in the market the company is trying to clock over one million bike sales in the fiscal ’04-’05.Although the Jan bike sales have dropped the company has managed to post net profit more than that of last year, for the corresponding period.
Now lets compare the technical specifications of the bike with others in its segment.
The engine of Star is of 99.7 cc
CD-Dawn – 97.2 cc. The engine used in Splendor and Passion is the same i.e. 97.2cc, So I cant figure out why are these two models so overpriced!
TVS Centra has a engine 99.8 cc and again is priced very high maybe because of the VT-I Engine Bajaj CT100 has a engine capacity of 99.27 cc, so it is nearly same as that of Star.
Star has a power of 7.5 bhp while Bajaj CT100 boasts of 8.2 bhp
TVS Centra too produces power of 7.5Bhp.While the CD-Dawn hovers around the same. CT100 clearly manages to be the winner here.
The petrol tank of Star is of 16 litres! While the CD Dawn has a capacity of 10.5 litres same with splendor. Centra has a capacity of 13 litres, while passion also has a capacity of 13 litres.
On the fuel economy side, the company promises 95KMPL under ideal driving conditions. It is expected that under city driving conditions it will give a mileage Of 65-70, which is quite good and is comparable to its counterparts.
The company is said to make a deluxe version of Star in coming days. It would be interesting to see what modifications are done in it Personally I feel it would different in Styling and come out with some good graphics. In all Star in upcoming days will surely give some competition to Bajaj and Hero Honda.