Entry-level retro styled Kawasaki motorcycle to get 175 cc mill

The bike is expected to carry the design philosophy of the Kawasaki Estrella 250 which is in its last stage of life and is available only in Japan.

Kawasaki has earlier used a 175 cc single-cylinder four-stroke mill which did duty in the Kawasaki Bajaj Eliminator. The cruiser was retailed in India and also exported. The bike, along with its air-cooled mill was replaced by the Bajaj Avenger range.

A name for the new retro styled motorcycle has not been confirmed yet and may be called as Kawasaki Estrella 175 or the Kawasaki W175 (after the W800). The power unit will have to be developed from scratch to meet emission norms which will only get stricter in the coming years. India, the world's biggest two wheeler market, is set to shift to BSVI emission norms in 2020.

The present generation Kawasaki Estrella was slowly discontinued from most markets as Kawasaki did not see it fit to be upgraded to meet the new emission norms. The bike currently retailed in Japan is powered by an air cooled 249 cc mill. The engine produces around 17 hp of maximum power and 20 Nm of peak torque.

Kawasaki is yet to confirm an entry-level retro styled motorcycle officially. However, the company had earlier said no to a 150 cc Ninja badged model.