Honda has patented the Metropolitan in India, fuelling rumours about the company’s intentions to launch the retro scooter over here.
The Metropolitan is a stylish scooter aimed at those looking for an all-round daily ride. The success of Yamaha Fascino seems to have influenced Honda to consider launching a retro scooter for the Indian market. While the Vespa has been around for a while, it was Yamaha which struck the perfect balance of retro character and lucrative pricing, a formula which has worked wonders for the company. Even the new Suzuki Access 125 gets a touch of retro styling to make it appealing for the masses.
While the Metropolitan is offered only with a fuel-injected 50cc engine globally, the India-spec model can be expected to use the Activa’s tried and tested 110cc mill. In terms of hierarchy, we can expect it to be positioned below the Activa 125. Apart from the Yamaha Fascino, the Metropolitan will also compete with the Maestro Edge and the TVS Jupiter.
