TVS Motor Company showcased a new power cruiser called the TVS Zepplin at the Auto Expo 2018 in Delhi. Now the moniker has reappeared on the Indian Intellectual Property Office for trademarks leading us to believe that the Zepplin could be under development. But the moniker also has an R suffix which could mean that the motorcycle could com in two iterations. The recent name filed is the Zepplin R, filed on the 2nd November 2020 under the Motorized Land Vehicles, Two-wheelers, Automobiles etc. in the Nice classification 12.
If the brand introduces the Zepplin & the Zepplin R, the motorcycle will become the first to feature mild-hybrid technology. Yes, the top-spec R model is likely to feature a 1,200W regenerative assist motor coupled to a 48V lithium-ion battery pack as showcased at the biennial event in Delhi. TVS is likely to call it e-Boost and the technology will not only provide torque on demand but also return a better fuel efficiency as compared to conventional engines. The power cruiser is also likely to feature a 212cc single-cylinder air-cooled four-stroke motor that is expected to produce around 20 HP of power and 18.5 Nm of torque matched to a 5-speed gearbox. Another feature on the power cruiser is likely to be a pulley & belt type final drive as showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo.
In terms of styling, the Zepplin highlights a trapezoidal headlamp with blacked-out inserts, a muscular fuel tank design, gold treated upside-down front forks, chopped off fenders, semi-digital instrumentation, ergonomically designed seats, a low slung exhaust, spoke-rims or the option of alloy wheels on the R model.
In the past, it was also rumoured that the Zepplin could be launched in India as the Ronin, and though TVS has filed for the Ronin moniker trademark the brand is likely to use it on an adventure class motorcycle based on the BMW G 310 GS, in the near future.
