In what can be considered a sweet, sweet surprise move, BMW Motorrad just gave us a glimpse of a maxi-scooter which is confirmed to make its way here soon. This news comes just days after the CE 04 electric maxi-scooter that was unveiled internationally. The maxi-scooter shown in the teaser seems to be the C 400 GT which made its international debut back in 2018. The C 400 GT, along with the C 400 X are part of the BMW Motorrad maxi-scooter lineup sold internationally.
The 2021 BMW C 400 GT retains the same design internationally as the 2018 model, but it received a new Style Triple Black colour in addition to the Alpine White and Kallisto Grey that were already available. The headlamp is an all-LED unit with DRLs, which can clearly be spotted in the teaser post. The seat is a one-piece unit, with a lower saddle height for the rider, suggesting a much more relaxed seating position compared to conventional scooters. The footwell offers extra space for the rider to stretch his/her legs on a ride. The C 400 also receives a tall windshield to protect the rider from wind blast. All this suggests the C 400 GT does stick to its Grand Tourer acronym.
Despite its name, the BMW C 400 GT actually packs a 350cc single cylinder liquid-cooled engine that produces 33bhp and 35Nm of torque. This engine has gone through a series of changes to make it Euro 5 compliant, while also receiving the e-Gas ride-by-wire technology that offers superior throttle response. With a top speed of 139kmph, this maxi-scooter is no slouch by any chance!
The C 400 GT receives a 35mm telescopic suspension at the front with a travel amount of 110mm, while the rear gets a double aluminium swingarm with adjustable preload and 112mm travel. Tyre sizes include a 15-incher at the front and a 14-incher at the back, and you also get disc brakes on both ends along with ABS.
Internationally, the BMW C 400 GT gets a wide range of features and optional accessories as well. Some of the standard equipment on the C 400 GT include automatic stability control (ASC), along with keyless ride, a 12V socket, USB charging socket, a 31-litre illuminated underseat storage space which can be increased to 45-litres with the Flexcase underseat pouch, and storage compartments on the front.
Meanwhile the optional features and accessories list includes the heated palm grips, anti-theft alarm system, a 6.5-inch TFT screen with BMW Motorrad connectivity which supports music streaming, phone calls, SMS, and turn-by-turn navigation. In addition, you also get dual-USB cables, topcase and tail softbags, and lastly a luggage carrier.
Being a 350cc maxi-scooter, the BMW C 400 GT won’t be very affordable, and instead it aims to be a lifestyle product. The BMW C 400 GT does not seem to have any direct rivals in India at the moment, the closest being the Suzuki Burgman Street 125 and the Aprilia SXR 160, while the Honda Forza 300 that was imported earlier this year seems to have disappeared from the official Honda two wheeler India website. The C 400 GT is priced at 7,290 Euros, which translates to Rs 6.4 lakh (ex-showroom) but it will be significantly more expensive after duties. However, it remains to be seen how BMW Motorrad will price its upcoming maxi-scooter for the Indian market, and more will be known in the days to come.