The Imperiale 400 retro cruiser from legendary Italian manufacturer Benelli is reportedly set for a launch in India next year. It was only recently that Benelli India re-entered the Indian market with Hyderabad-based Mahavir Group. Now, Benelli chief marketing officer (CMO) Dante Bustos, speaking to Overdrive.in, has said that the Imperiale 400 will be launched in India around the middle of next year.

Benelli already has several motorcycles lined up for launch in India in the coming months, and the addition of the Imperiale 400 seems like the cherry on the cake. The retro cruiser will be an important motorcycle and it will go head-to-head with the Royal Enfield Classic series. The company will also be looking forward to increased localization when the motorcycle debuts, the report adds. And, it is expected that the segment will be very competitive.

The Benelli Imperiale 400 will be assembled at the Benelli India plant being set up in Medichal, near Hyderabad, and will debut the company’s 373.5cc powertrain in the country. Strongly adhering to the tradition, the Imperiale 400 Benelli is reminiscent of the historic model of the Benelli-MotoBi range produced in the 1950s. The Benelli Imperiale 400’s retro-themed styling and overall leaner appeal compared to Enfields will definitely be a welcome change for cruiser enthusiasts in India.

The motorcycle employs a double cradle, steel tubular frame and the teardrop shaped tank with rubber tank grips, split seats and chrome bits add to charm of the Benelli Imperiale 400. The motorcycle is equipped with a single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled engine with a single overhead camshaft timing system and electronic fuel injection. The engine produces maximum power of 19.7hp at 5,500rpm, along with torque of 28Nm at 3,500rpm.

The Royal Enfield’s Classic currently faces little to no competition in the Indian market. So, the Imperiale 400 stands a chance to be a key product for Benelli India in 2019. The Qianjiang Group-owned company also plans to launch its TRK 502 adventure tourer and Leoncino 500 scrambler in the country in 2018.