00:00Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Executive Director of Norton Motorcycles, Richard Arnold.
00:11Good morning everyone and welcome.
00:16Powered and supported by the strength of TVS Motor Company,
00:21Norton Motorcycles is creating the most desirable motorcycles for the most discerning riders.
00:30Exactly one year ago today, here in Milan, we unveiled Norton's resurgence,
00:36a new range of groundbreaking Norton models under an all-new Norton identity
00:43and distributed through an international retail presence, bringing Norton to new customers all around the world.
00:52So one year on, I'm extremely proud to stand here and say that we've delivered on that ambition.
00:59In our first 12 months, we've launched the flagship Manx R to critical acclaim,
01:05redefining the superbike category, with customers now taking delivery across Europe.
01:13We've reimagined the middleweight adventure bike with the launch of the new Norton Atlas,
01:19which is now in full series production.
01:22and we've rapidly grown our retail network, but you'll hear more on that later.
01:28Norton is already represented in over 10 markets and will soon be in India and the USA, unprecedented for Norton.
01:38We've completed the investment of more than a quarter of a billion pounds in our state-of-the-art facility
01:43in the UK,
01:43a global hub for design and engineering.
01:48And along the way, we've amassed awards and accolades for our products, forged new partnerships
01:55and established a world-class customer experience.
02:00The Norton resurgence is history in the making,
02:04and we feel honoured to be custodians of this incredible mark.
02:12Norton's 128-year history is a proud story of ground-breaking design,
02:19innovative engineering and thrilling riding experiences.
02:24Our resurgence is respectful to this heritage,
02:28but is unashamedly forward-looking.
02:33Every Norton is created around a consistent vision,
02:37and to explain this, it's my pleasure to welcome to the stage
02:41our Chief Creative Advisor, Professor Gerry McGovern, OBE.
02:49Thanks, Richard.
02:51Thank you, Richard.
02:53It's great to hear about investment,
02:56new products,
02:58and global expansion.
02:59A thriving business in automotive is what we have in TVS
03:05and its ambition for Norton.
03:08As a designer, I find this incredibly exciting,
03:12and it's why I'm here.
03:14For me, the Norton brand expresses one of the most exciting opportunities
03:19anywhere in automotive.
03:22The resurgence you see today began with a clear vision
03:27from Sudhushan Venu.
03:30He recognised the extraordinary potential of this great British brand,
03:36and understood that world-class design
03:39and world-class engineering
03:41must work hand-in-hand to realise it.
03:45We are defining
03:48what the Norton brand means
03:50for today's and tomorrow's customers
03:52through a new generation
03:54of motorcycles.
03:57Great brands aren't defined
03:59by individual design cues.
04:02They're defined by a clear vision,
04:05a belief that what they stand for
04:08and the discipline to express
04:10that consistently over time.
04:13The ultimate goal
04:15is to create products
04:17and experiences
04:18that truly resonate with people
04:21on an emotional level.
04:23That's what we are establishing
04:26at Norton.
04:27We've created a set of design principles
04:31that allow every Norton motorcycle
04:34to have its own unique character
04:38while retaining that unmistakable
04:41Norton DNA.
04:43Perfect proportions,
04:45strong stance,
04:47sophisticated surfaces,
04:49razor-sharp attention to detail.
04:53People don't connect
04:54with great design intellectually,
04:57they connect with it emotionally.
05:00Great motorcycles, like cars,
05:04have the ability to change lives,
05:06bring people together,
05:07and become objects of desire.
05:12Great brands invariably
05:14have a unique heritage,
05:16but the very best
05:17are those with the ability
05:19to look to the future
05:21without being constrained
05:23by the past.
05:25These principles
05:26are what shape
05:28the modern banks are
05:29you see today.
05:31It captures the original spirit
05:33of the original's innovation,
05:35the essence of what made it so special
05:38and of what made it so desired
05:41in its day.
05:44The result is a motorcycle
05:46that has been recognised
05:48with some of the most prestigious
05:50design awards in the world,
05:53including Red Dot and Idea.
05:56Moving on to the new Atlas.
05:58Of course, it is in a completely
06:01different category
06:02and for a different rider.
06:05Here again,
06:06we have executed
06:07our design principles consistently
06:09while creating something unique
06:12for the adventure category.
06:14And it's been received
06:16wonderfully,
06:17wonderful reception
06:18around the world
06:20from Mexico to India,
06:22Australia to Iceland.
06:24That's enormously rewarding.
06:27It reflects the dedication
06:29of our designers
06:31and engineers
06:32who have worked so hard
06:34to bring these motorcycles
06:35to life.
06:37So what's next?
06:40Let me tell you,
06:42a motorcycle
06:43that brings the Norton brand
06:45to a new generation
06:47of customers.
06:49We've created something
06:50that's rich in character
06:52and desirability,
06:54yet something
06:55that's approachable
06:57and practical
06:58for everyday riding.
07:01It's inviting
07:03and it has presence.
07:05Compact,
07:06lightweight,
07:07attainable
07:08and every bit
07:09a Norton.
07:11Now I'll hand over
07:13to my creative colleague,
07:16Simon Skinner,
07:17the head of design.
07:18Thank you,
07:20thank you,
07:20Jerry.
07:22Ladies and gentlemen,
07:24we're incredibly proud
07:25to unveil the next chapter
07:26of the Norton resurgence.
07:28Please welcome
07:30the new
07:30Norton 450 urban.
07:33and I'll see you soon.
07:33Bye-bye.
07:42Bye-bye.
07:46Bye-bye.
07:49Bye-bye.
07:51Bye-bye.
07:51Bye-bye.
07:52Bye-bye.
07:52Bye-bye.
07:54Bye-bye.
08:05Bis zum nächsten Mal.
08:26The new Norton 450 Urban has been created with the same obsession with proportion, surfaces and detail that defines the
08:35new generation of Norton.
08:37Its stance is dramatic, its details are deliberate.
08:41Nothing exists purely for decoration.
08:45The main structural elements, the frame and swing arm, form the main dynamic graphic through the bike.
08:51Dramatic, pure and authentic.
08:54We designed a bike that was as accessible as possible.
08:58A low narrow seat, a low tank with a surface sloping away from the rider.
09:04This not only gives a feeling of space, but makes the bike more approachable, lighter and confidence inspiring.
09:11A motorcycle that has presence of a Norton and fits naturally into the city.
09:18It's not a naked bike, but it's not fared either.
09:21It's the best of both worlds.
09:23We have created the largest surfaces possible with minimum edges and direction changes.
09:29Through fading creases, the surface tension is taut, but not angular.
09:35To achieve our creative vision, we made no compromise with several key design and engineering features.
09:43Automotive level panel gaps.
09:45No visible fixings, not even engine mounts.
09:48The fuel cap is covered.
09:50The engine is covered.
09:52A unique feature that enhances the modernity through reductivity.
09:56All of these features are carefully complemented by modern, vibrant colour options with our signature paint depth and finish.
10:05As with all our bikes, achieving this fresh take-on motorcycle design requires absolute synergy between design and engineering.
10:15So to talk about the engineering of the new Norton 450 Urban, I'll hand over to our Chief Technical Officer,
10:22Brian Gillen.
10:24Absolutely.
10:25Thank you, Simon.
10:26As with design, every Norton is guided by a clear set of engineering principles, core principles.
10:35Every Norton is instantly distinguishable for these core features.
10:41Torque.
10:42Torque is what drives Norton.
10:44A wide range of torque across the entire RPM range.
10:49The chassis.
10:50The chassis is nimble, agile, connecting the rider directly to the road.
10:55And technology.
10:56A focus on enhancing the rider experience with the most advanced rider aids and connectivity.
11:03We have instilled these Norton principles in the entire model range.
11:08Whether powered by our V4, our twin-cylinder engine, and the new single-cylinder engine in the 454.
11:15This torque delivery is immediately identifiable along with the Norton sound.
11:21The new Norton 450 Urban is powered by a liquid-cooled 454 cc single-cylinder engine producing 47 horsepower at
11:328,000 RPM.
11:33But most important is its wide range of torque, reaching 45 Newton meters and meeting the European A2 license requirements.
11:42The exhaust note has been specifically engineered to have a unique sound that immediately makes the bike recognizable.
11:50The handling is exceptional.
11:52In part due to the lightweight cast aluminum frame.
11:55It's mass-centralized, die-cast with coupled to KYB suspension units, front and rear, and by Bray braking system.
12:05Now, all these technical features combine to make the ride agile, intuitive, and confidence-inspiring in the city and on
12:14open roads.
12:15The riding experience is augmented by the most comprehensive advanced suite of rider aids, including the dynamic LED front headlight,
12:24traction control, cruise control, and three preset rider modes that are also customizable.
12:29Connectivity and advanced features allow the bike to integrate seamlessly into the rider's lifestyle, along with keyless ignition, smartphone connectivity,
12:40heated grips, an 8-inch TFT touchscreen, USB-C charger, and TPMS, keeping under control your tire temperatures and pressure
12:49at all times.
12:50We've ensured rider comfort as well, something especially important with urban riding, and a seat height of only 812 millimeters.
13:00Adjustable levers and optimized heat management controlling the flow of heat around the rider.
13:06In summary, the new Norton 450 Urban delivers performance, technology, and emotion.
13:12I'll now hand over to Vice President and Head of Division Europe, Marcel Driessen, to tell us how we'll bring
13:18the Norton 450 Urban to the market.
13:23Thank you, Brian.
13:24Thank you.
13:26Well, as you have seen and heard on the stand of TVS today, we have a growing focus on Europe.
13:33And I think you can see as well that Norton is a bit leading the way already.
13:38So, in the coming years, we expect these two beautiful bikes to account for a substantial portion of the Norton
13:45sales global, with Europe, India, and the USA being our key markets.
13:50To support our increasing volumes, of course, we are continuing growing our network of retailers all around the world at
13:58a fast pace.
13:59And we will bring the brand to many more regions in the world.
14:03In less than a year, in Europe, we have expanded the brand already to 50 retailers all across 10 countries
14:11in Europe.
14:12These markets are just a start.
14:14We will move and continue to grow towards our target of about 200 retailers across 20 countries, with TVS growing
14:25fast in parallel.
14:26To ensure that every retailer delivers a Norton environment unlike any other, we have partnered with British Design Studio, Foster
14:35& Partners.
14:36The result is a really unrevivaled retail experience.
14:41Not just for our customers, but as well for our retail partners.
14:44Taking the Norton design philosophy from the bikes into the showroom.
14:50Award-winning bikes are key to our rapid growth.
14:54And the full range will be available soon in every market.
14:58Manx.
14:59Manx R, Atlas, Atlas GT, as well as the two beautiful bikes that you've seen today.
15:04And for those who want to personalize their Norton, of course, there will be a full range of accessories available
15:10quite soon.
15:11As we expand, we look forward to working to new partners across the globe, both in established markets and in
15:19countries where Norton will enter soon.
15:20Thank you very much.
15:22Norton, back to you.
15:24Thanks.
15:25So, ladies and gentlemen, the Norton resurgence continues apace.
15:31We're building on 128 years of groundbreaking motorcycles and thrilling riding experiences.
15:39But this adventure is only just beginning and there's even more to come.
15:43Come on the journey with us.
15:45Thank you.
