The Benelli TNT 600i has been spotted in China in a new avatar. The popular middle weight motorcycle was launched in India back in 2015 and has received only one upgrade pertaining to the ABS safety feature, in 2017. Other than the safety upgrade the bike has largely remained unchanged ever since, apart from a limited edition in between.
The spied pictures of the Benelli TNT 600i reveal that the motorcycle has been completely overhauled and comes refreshed in terms of styling and is likely to get a new Euro5 emission compliant engine. The bike looks completely different from its predecessor and gets sleek new headlights and taillights. The tank has wide cowling and the overall profile forms a smoother silhouette. The new TNT 600i features a single-can exhaust-end on the right and the dual under sear unit has been given a miss making the rear section more slim. The slimmer rear-end is also complimented by the swingarm mounted number plate holder and tyre hugger. The brand has replaced the old analogue-digital dash with the new fully-digital, colour TFT console which is likely to sport different themes and layouts.
The mechanical hardware is expected to remain the same and the bike is likely to get the same bassinet type steel trellis chassis in contrast colours, inverted telescopic forks on the front and a hydraulic monoshock on the rear. The brakes are also expected to remain the same and the bike is likely to sport twin hydraulically operated discs on the front and a single disc on the rear equipped with a dual-channel ABS system. We do expect some amount of weight reduction on the new model, as the current Benelli TNT 600i is a heavy bike as per segment standards.
The current TNT 600i in India is powered by a 4-stroke, 600cc, In-line, 4-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled, 4-valve/cylinder engine equipped with a pressure splash lubrication system that develops 85.07 BHP of power and 54.6 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed transmission. The new motorcycle, if launched in India, will be updated to a new BSVI compliant engine which is likely to have a revised power and torque output. The bike could also get a slipper-assist clutch.
The bike is expected to be showcased this year at the EICMA Motor Show in Milan. The brand is also expected to launch the motorcycle in India by 2020 with a price tag close to INR 7 – 7.5 lakh (on-road).
