Honda GoldWing Hybrid

Honda’s Grand Tourer Motorcycle, the Goldwing, could get hybrid power in the future as a patent application submitted by Honda to the US patent office reveals a four cylinder engine supplemented by an electric motor for the Hybrid Goldwing.

What we’re wondering about is not how farther the hybrid Goldwing will go or even about how less carbon it will emit, but as to why exactly has Honda dumped the six cylinder 1,800cc boxer engine for the four potter?

One reason could be because Honda, instead of using the electric motor to cut fuel costs and emissions could instead use it as a power booster when needed. Higher fuel economy and lower emissions could any way be achieved with the smaller four cylinder engine.

This makes a bunch of sense isn’t it, as the Honda Goldwing is essentially a long distance tourer, on which a small electric motor to cut emissions and help extend range won’t exactly work as short distance city commuting isn’t exactly what a Goldwing will be used for.

Hero Honda to provide 3,500 per cent dividend

In a move aimed at making investors happy, the country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda Motors Ltd on Wednesday announced 3,500 per cent dividend or Rs 70 per equity share of face value Rs 2 to its shareholders. This is expected to cost the company Rs 1,500 crore.

"In its board meeting held today, the company considered and declared an interim dividend at the rate of 3,500 per cent, that is Rs 70 per equity share of Rs 2 each," company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). In its filing to the stock exchange, the company did not say how much it would cost the bike major. The company's spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

However, according to a senior official of the company the dividend payout will cost it about Rs 1,500 crore. "This payout will cost the company about Rs 1,500 crore. But this is just a rough estimate. The exact figure I can tell only after calculations," he said. "There is nothing surprising in this announcement as the company has performed well. We have enough cash surplus. Last year too, we shared a similar dividend with all the stockholders. So, I do not see it having any negative impact on revenues in the long run," the company official added.

In March last year, the company had declared a Silver Jubilee Special Dividend of 4,000 per cent or Rs 80 per equity share of Rs 2 face value each. The announcement was received well by the markets and the market experts. The Hero Honda stock rallied at the BSE closing 5.86 per cent higher at Rs 1,735.10.

Market analysts said that the dividend payout will have no negative impact on the company's revenue. Surjit Arora, auto analyst at leading brokerage firm Prabhudas Lilladher, said, "The company is cash rich. They have about Rs 6,000 crore cash reserve in their balance sheet. After calculation the whole payout will amount to Rs 1,400 crore. Even after the payout there will be enough reserves left with the company. So, I do not see any negative impact on the company."

His view was supported by Jatin Chawla, an analyst at Hero Honda to give 3,500% dividend India Infoline. "I see it as a very healthy trend to keep the investors happy. These days investors like companies which invest and share it (the gains) with them. So, I see the impact will be positive and it is apparent from the way the market has reacted today," Chawla said.

"The company has done well - exceeding market expectations. The two-wheeler sector in general is doing well. There is a lot of cash reserves with the company. So, I do not see why it will have any negative impact on revenues," Chawla added. Meanwhile, Hero Honda Motors appointed Toshiyuki Inuma as a non-executive additional director with effect from April 13.

The company also accepted the resignations of non-executive director Yuji Shiga and non-executive and independent director Shobhana Bhartia from its board with effect from April 13.

Honda CBR250R unveiled in India

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter has launched its CBR250R motorcycle in India. The ABS version of the motorcycle is priced at Rs 1,68,001 (ex-showroom Delhi) while the STD model would cost  Rs 1,43,001.

The bike is available in three colour options-red, silver and black.

It is powered by a single cylinder 250cc DOHC engine. The engine of CBR250R is light and compact and gives smooth and vibe free performance reflecting the sports character, and also retaining great mileage and sheer power of 25 Bhp, the company says.

The company claims that CBR's PGM-FI technology facilitates easy starting even in cold weather. Apart from reducing emissions, it also enhances performance and ensures great mileage, it says.