2014 Auto Expo: Hero unveils Hastur, Splendor Pro Classic, SimplEcity, Passion Pro TR and iON in India

Hero MotorCorp seem to be surprising us quite often, this time the global leader in two-wheelers unveiled five more motorcycles, just a week after showcasing a slew of new production and concept bikes.

The first bike unveiled today was the Hastur, a 625cc parallel-twin naked concept that has been developed by Hero R&D with Eric Buell involvement. The motor puts out 80PS at 9600rpm which is impressive for an engine of this size. Hero hasn't disclosed any more engine specifications or power figures yet. The company also hasn't announced launch plans or tentative prices but it shows the way forward for the company and this also means that Hero Motocorp is willing to explore and play the premium game. The motorcycle may not go into production but if it does, it will be manufactured in India. The bike features a trellis frame and a heavily slanted headlamp like on a Kawasaki Z1000, only not so well executed. The frame also features a short rear end which is commonly seen on Buell motorcycles. The frame appears orange in these pictures because of the lights which reminds strongly of a KTM, but is actually finished in yellow.

The other motorcycle unveiled was the Splendor Pro Classic, a Splendor that features a Cafe Racer inspired design. The highlights are a new handle bar while the headlamps and indicators are round. A rear cafe racer cowl, round rear view mirrors and chrome parts are other additions. The engine is the same 100cc unit.

Also unveiled was the Passion Pro TR, a new variant that combines an off-road theme to a commuter motorcycle. The additions include on-off tyres, new handlebar with a cross brace, higher front mudguard, front tyre hugger, grill for the headlamp, hand guards, bash plate and fuel tank pads. The motorcycle also receives newer colour options and graphics. Hero will launch the Passion Pro TR in India by the end of this fiscal.

The second concept on display is the Hero iON. A hydrogen fuel cell is mounted in the centre structure along with advanced lithium-air technology batteries and capacitors. The hubless wheels use electric motors that use magnetic levitation technology and when needed acts as brakes. The concept also features multi-axis gyros and accelerometers to maintain stability. An electric motorcycle. SimplEcity is also present at the Hero Motocorp stand, it's an efficient intra-City bike that features a removable battery pack, smart phone connection that acts as a dashboard and a walk mode (electric assistance to help push the bike especially uphill)