Benelli Imperiale 530 Patent Images Leaked

Benelli had earlier revealed its plans of launching multiple motorcycles this year

• Gets the same design as its 400cc sibling.
• Packs a larger 530cc engine which may comply with Euro 5/BS6 emission norms.
• Expect the unit to make more power and torque than the 400cc unit.

Last October, the Managing Director of Benelli India, Vikas Jhabakh, revealed the company’s plans of working on a couple of new iterations of the Benelli Imperiale 400 with different displacements. This statement was further strengthened when the brand held a press conference in China where it revealed its intentions of launching multiple motorcycles, including a bigger, more powerful Benelli Imperiale 530. And now, patent images have revealed what the bike looks like.

As you’d expect, the 530 looks almost identical to the Imperiale 400. It features the same retro design language with a teardrop-shaped fuel-tank and its signature classic round headlight. In fact, the only way to tell the two apart is the single-piece dual-tone seat seen on the 530, compared to the two-piece unit on the 400.

The engine casing too is similar to that of the 400, which hints at the fact that the motor may be a bored out or stroked out 374cc unit. Expect the reworked engine to produce more power and torque (between 28PS and 30PS) while complying with the strict emissions norms. To draw a comparison, the existing mill that powers the Imperiale 400 makes 21PS and 29Nm.

All said and done, we believe the Imperiale 530 may not make its way to India, and here’s why. If Benelli brings the bike via the CKD route, like the rest of its portfolio in India, it might push the price of the Imperiale 530 within spitting distance of the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, which starts at Rs 2.56 lakh (ex-showroom). 

The Interceptor makes for one of the best value-for-money propositions in the market. It offers a much bigger engine in a parallel-twin configuration. The 650cc cruiser also enjoys a greater brand presence here in India. As a result, it wouldn’t make business sense for Benelli to bring out a classic motorcycle anywhere near the ballpark pricing of the Interceptor 650.

Source: Bennetts