MV Agusta’s next model for the Indian market – the 2016 Brutale 800, is currently undergoing homologation at the Automotive Research Association of India. Hinting at a December launch, Ajinkya Firodia, MD, MV Agusta India, said that this middleweight streetfighter would be introduced here through the SKD route as an entry-level model.
The new MV Agusta Brutale 800 gets a couple of visual updates targeted at making the streetfighter more streamlined and aerodynamic. The fuel tank, exhaust pipes, headlamp and the tail lamp all have been redesigned to give the bike a more aggressive look. The new aluminium subframe should help in cutting a significant amount of weight. The Brutale 800 is powered by a 798cc three-pot engine, which delivers 123bhp of power and 81Nm of torque. The suspension and brake setup have also been carried over from the 2015 model. The biggest update is that this engine is now Euro IV compliant.
MV Agusta’s decision to locally assemble the motorcycle as an SKD means that the Brutale 800 will attract lower taxes than its CBU counterparts. As such, we can expect the Brutale 800 to be the biggest drivers of volumes for the Italian marque along with the F3 800. Despite being smaller in capacity than these motorcycles, the Brutale 800 will have to share the market space with the likes of the Kawasaki Z1000, Suzuki GSX-S1000 and the Benelli TNT R.
