- Piaggio celebrating 25-year anniversary in India
- Confirms RS440 India launch
- It was recently spied testing in India
Piaggio Vehicles, the parent company of Aprilia, recently announced that 2023 marks the completion of its 25 years of existence in India. To commemorate the occasion, the company is preparing to introduce a bunch of new products in our country, including the RS440 which was spied testing in India recently. Once launched, it will lock horns with the KTM RC 390 and the TVS Apache RR310.
The Italian brand started working on this project around 3-4 years back. It was meant to be a smaller 150cc offering initially but, over a period of time, the company foresaw more sense and scope for a scaled-up platform. As can be deciphered from the recent spy shots, the motorcycle is likely to be sporty yet forgiving in terms of ergonomics. Unlike its razor-sharp styling, which takes close inspiration from the bigger RS660, the riding posture of the test rider looked fairly upright for a sportbike.
The Aprilia RS440 is expected to be powered by a 450cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine with an approximate power output of 48bhp. Mated to a six-speed gearbox, it’s likely to be capable of attaining a top speed of about 180kmph. One can also notice the test mule carrying premium components like upside-down forks and a large front disc brake. Features like a full-LED lighting system, a TFT console, and Bluetooth connectivity could also be a part of the package.
Piaggio is likely to launch the Aprilia RS440 around the festive season this year. Although there’s no confirmation on the pricing of the bike, we expect it to be on the premium side and more expensive than the KTM RC 390 which costs Rs 3.16 lakh.
