Norton Motorcycles has confirmed the first new model created under the stewardship of new owners TVS Motors - the 2021 Norton V4RR sportsbike - will be unveiled before the end of the year.
Speaking in a short video excerpt on Twitter, new CEO John Russell suggests the erstwhile beleaguered British firm is emerging from its dark days into a much rosier future, with the fruits of its labour over the more recent months set to become clearer in the coming weeks.
He then concludes the video by mentioning a new motorcycle, the first to come from what he refers to as ‘new Norton’ by the end of the year.
“TVS bought Norton because it was a once in a generation opportunity to buy one of the great brands of the motorcycle industry. It is our job, our goal to make sure the foundations we create now create the real potential to unlock this brand and deliver its potential long term.
“Much of what we are working on is invisible to our customers and enthusiasts but at the heart of what we’re doing is this bike, which will be the first one available from the new Norton at the end of this year.”
Interview with John Russell, CEO of Norton Motorcycles.
To find out more visit https://t.co/mpwLK2dGVY#nortonmotorcycles#MotorcycleLive pic.twitter.com/1CDMd8tlYa— Norton Motorcycles (@Norton_Moto) November 21, 2020
A short snippet on the Norton website confirms the aforementioned model will be the updated Norton V4RR. Though necessary Euro5 upgrades will be the predominent motivation behind the revisions, it will be a chance for Norton's new owners to make an impression and formally wrap up what has been a tumultuous 12 months for the marque.
Beginning the year amid murmurs of unpaid invoices and late deliveries, Norton was plunged into crisis overnight in February when it slipped into administration, placing it perilously close to collapse. Worse was to follow in the ensuing weeks as Norton became embroiled in a pension funds fraud scandal directly linked to ex-CEO Stuart Garner.
While that investigation remains ongoing, the company itself has turned a corner over the past few months after it was purchased by TVS Motors, one of India’s largest motorcycle conglomerates.
Though TVS haven’t given too much away about its plans for Norton, in the short-to-mid-term it says it will maintain and upgrade the British based production lines and funnel investment into models that will retain its premium image.
