KTM: 500cc and 800cc twins in development

New models to appear in the next three years

KTM CEO Stefan Pierer has said the Austrian firm has 500cc and 800cc parallel-twin engines in development.

The new engines are likely to be used in production in the next three years and will be manufactured in India, for the Indian market, to avoid strict import duties, he told Overdrive.in.

Mid-sized models such as the 690 Duke and 690 SMC are currently not available in India due to high import costs.

Pierer also explained that the new RC125, RC200 and RC390 models will be launched in India mid-2014 and development of a new focused off-road model will begin utilising the same engines.

An adventure tourer with a larger tank, based on the same platform, is also likely to be produced according to Pierer.