Indian firm TVS caused a stir when it revealed its Akula concept last year, and now its final name has emerged – it will be called the Apache RR310S.
Though based on the BMW G310R engine and chassis, TVS added fully faired styling to create a convincing small-capacity sportsbike.
Road-going prototypes have since been spotted on several occasions in India.
The name turned up in an Indian trademark application, filed at the end of April.
It fits with TVS’s existing Apache range, while the 310 element leaves no doubt that it’s the BMW-powered machine. TVS already builds the G310R for BMW along with the new G310GS.
Ever since the Akula concept emerged, there have been questions as to whether there will be a BMW-branded version of the small sportsbike for global sale, since the TVS machine is expected to remain an India-only product.
While BMW hasn’t mentioned such a model, there’s a clear market for smaller sportsbikes, so it would make sense.
By Ben Purvis
A year after appearing as the Akula (‘shark’ in Russian) concept, the TVS is to be released in India in July as the Apache RR310S