Hero takes its most popular 100cc commuter platforms down the green route, but the eco-friendly transition comes with a noticeable price premium.
- Capable of running on ethanol-blended fuels ranging from E20 up to E85.
- Gets a unique Black paint job accented with vibrant Lime Yellow graphics.
- Launches initially in Delhi and select regions of Maharashtra this July.
Hero MotoCorp has just dropped a rather significant update for its most reliable bread-and-butter commuters. Ahead of World Environment Day, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer introduced the flex-fuel ready iterations of the Splendor Plus and the HF Deluxe. This is a highly calculated move by the brand; instead of experimenting with premium, low-volume products, Hero is targeting the absolute heart of the Indian mass market to spearhead its green initiatives.
From a visual standpoint, Hero hasn’t completely rewritten the rulebook, which is a sensible approach given how conservative buyers in this segment can be. However, both motorcycles get a fresh lease of life courtesy of a special premium Black paint scheme decorated with vibrant Lime Yellow body graphics. In our view, this adds a much-needed touch of flashiness to these otherwise purely utilitarian machines, making them stand out from the endless sea of standard models on our roads without looking overly loud or tacky.
The real talking point, however, lies buried deep under the skin. The familiar 97.2cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine has undergone a thorough mechanical overhaul. To deal with the highly corrosive nature of high-concentration ethanol blends, Hero has integrated 36 extensive mechanical upgrades. This includes a specialized fuel pump, a robust secondary fuel filter to handle molasses extraction residues smoothly, and a heavily recalibrated ECU map to keep firing cycles optimal.
On paper, performance figures remain largely unchanged from the standard petrol versions. Running on E85 fuel, the motor pumps out 8.44 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 8.3 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm, paired with a standard four-speed gearbox. While the numbers match up perfectly, we suspect the real-world riding experience will hinge entirely on how cleanly the revised ECU handles throttle transitions on lower-quality ethanol blends when the engine is cold.
Feature-wise, the Splendor Plus Flex Fuel takes a slightly more premium approach, coming equipped with a new twin-pod semi-digital instrument console featuring a digital fuel tracking gauge, tubeless tyres, a side-stand engine cut-off switch, and Hero’s patented i3S idle stop-start tech to eke out maximum efficiency during urban traffic halts. On the flip side, the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel drops the i3S system and sticks closer to basics to position itself as the more pocket-friendly alternative.
In terms of pricing, the Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel commands a price tag of Rs 72,792, whereas the more premium Splendor Plus Flex Fuel is priced at Rs 87,710 (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi). Both models will hit showrooms in Delhi and select parts of Maharashtra starting this July before a wider nationwide rollout.
Now, there’s no denying that this is a commendable step toward reducing India’s economic carbon intensity. However, looking at the numbers, these flex-fuel variants carry an unmistakable premium over their conventional siblings. For a buyer looking strictly at a 100cc commuter, crossing the Rs 87,000 mark ex-showroom for a Splendor might raise a few eyebrows. Until ethanol pumps become widely accessible across the country and the fuel itself is subsidized enough to offset this initial acquisition cost, convincing the typical cost-conscious commuter to make the jump might turn out to be a bit of an uphill task for Hero.
