Report: Joshua David Luther; Photography: Mohd. Nasir
Like the fashion industry, the design philosophy of the auto industry keeps getting new trends which get out dated and then return with a vengeance. In today’s age and date, old school is the new cool with all heads turning to a more retro look. But retro is simply not enough! It would seem a fusion of old school looks and modern engineering is what makes our world tick. A few auto manufacturers have accepted this while others are still in the process of understanding it! But Yamaha has been quick and precise like the blade of a samurai. India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. launched their new scooty the Fascino in May, 2015. The scooty is set to compete with the likes of the Vespa and create a significant space for itself in the retro scooty market.
The Fascino is not a run of the mill scooty and it has a unique appeal which is not available in the market. Yamaha has used a retro look on the Fascino but has gone a little beyond that, they have combined retro looks with a new design philosophy. The design language is inspiring with smooth and curvy lines flowing seamlessly on the sides of the scooty. The front of the Fascino has edgy styling with a triangular yet round headlamp. This scooty is curvy yet boasts of a sharp and edgy design. It has a sleek side profile and comes with chrome garnishing on the sides. The front and rear feature the Yamaha emblem housed in a chrome finished wing blade. The side view mirror housing has subtle chrome finishing and the Fascino is available with a host of accessories.
At the heart of the Fascino is a 113cc, Air-Cooled, 4-Stroke, SOHC, 2-Valve motor which produces 7bhp @ 7500rpm and churns out 8.1Nm of torque @ 5000rpm. This scooty has a kerb weight of 103kgs which makes it light and zippy, ideal for city traffic. The 90/ 100 R10 tyres grip the road well and give the scooty an impressive stance. The Fascino has a ground clearance of 128mm and the telescopic (front) and unit swing (rear) suspension which caters to a smooth hassle free ride. In city traffic and on highways the Fascino is easy to ride. It corners well and has a sharp acceleration, throttle inputs are exact from the word go and the engine does not feel stressed till the 85kmph mark. The front and rear drum brakes are progressive but never give you a feeling of uncertainty. The V-Belt automatic transmission is smooth and gives an uninterrupted flow of power. The Fascino may be a tad bit slower than competition but are you really going to use it to race? What’s more important for this segment is fuel economy and the Fascino gives one of the best averages in the segment. It returns 66kms to a litre of petrol which beats competition by leaps and bounds.
Like all the other contenders, this scooty also comes with a host of features. The Fascino has one of the biggest under seat storage areas of 21 litres, it comes with an under seat hook for bags and a bottle holding pocket for any pocket sized items and water bottles. It has a broad and comfy saddle and the rider seat height is set at 775mm. The scooty has a decent riding position and is comfortable to ride even on long journeys. The switch gear on the Fascino is easy to operate and has been placed ergonomically. The scooty has a bold analogue speed-o-meter which is easy to read and has an economical driving indicator. It also is available with an electric start and kick start function. The Fascino is available in 5 colours – Sassy Cyan, Rouge Red, Tuxedo Black, Haute White and Cool Cobalt. This scooty will cost you Rs. 52,500 (ex-showroom Delhi) which is very competitive considering that you get a unique styling, great fuel efficiency and admirable performance at a very affordable price.
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