Japanese auto maker Yamaha has announced that it intends to launch a new version of its super bike model YZF-R1 in 2010. “We will launch a new version of YZF-R1 in India in 2010. The bike will be a bit more expensive than the existing YZF-R1, but will have the same 998cc engine,” India Yamaha Motor National Business Head Pankaj Dubey said. The company earlier launched the R1 superbike in 2007 in India along with MT–01 during 2007 as completely built units, priced at about Rs 10.5 lakh. During September this year, it also rode in the 1,679 cc VMAX, at Rs 20 lakh apiece. The new model will have the same 998cc engine but will be a bit pricier than the existing model.

Yamaha is aiming at 50 percent growth in the Indian market where it is likely to achieve 2,20,000 units sale annually as well as export nearly 70,000 units from India. The R1 2010 model sports a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine, compared with the 2007 R1 model that runs on a liquid-cooled four-stroke engine. The company claims it’s the first motorcycle with a cross-plane crankshaft.

“We don’t see any other bike manufacturer as competition because each product has a different niche. Coming in of more players will only increase competitiveness in the market,” Dubey said.