March 16, 2007: TVS Star Sport, a new sport variant of the 100-cc bike TVS Star has been launched. This is the third 100-cc bike in the Star series, the others being TVS Star and TVS Star City. The Sport model is more compact and stylist, and comes in two variants.

The higher deluxe base version of TVS Star Sport has alloy wheels, fuel gauge and comes in three colors - silver, black and blue. The price is Rs 35,490, ex-showroom. The lower variant of TVS Star Sport comes in two colors, red and black. The price for the lower TVS Star Sport will be Rs 33,990. (See photos and pics alongside). The 16-litre petrol tank of the Star Sport has sculpted looks, more in the league of the Apache or the Pulsar. The wheels, in both versions, are alloy, adding to TVS Star Sport's appeal. If its looks don't knock you off the feet, the bike's mileage will satisfy you.

Importantly, even after the sport bike variant, the earlier TVS Star bikes will continue to be retailed. With the new launch, TVS has extended its range to every nook and cranny of the viciously-contested 100-cc space. The four-stroke Star Sport is targeted at the commuter bike market in the entry level. TVS claims that the bike is ideal for city driving conditions. With the TVS Star Sport launch, the company hopes to increase its marketshare held by the Star variants to 13% from the current 10%. TVS gets about 75% of its sales from the Star range, while the Victor and Apache bring the balance.

The Star series of bikes takes on the Bajaj CT100 series. The Sport is powered by an air-cooled single cylinder engine which gives 99.7 cc displacement. At 7500 rpm, the peak power output of the TVS Star Sport is 7.5 bhp.

TVS is expected to roll out more new bike models this financial year, when its plants in Himachal Pradesh and Indonesia go on stream. A new Apache, new The company is going full steam ahead in the 100-cc bike segment, even after rival Bajaj has indicated its plan to leave the low-margin 100-cc segment. Though the entry level is the bread and butter for many bike-makers, it is a low margin business. Bajaj is now planning to launch more bikes in the premium bike category.