TVS Motor Company has launched a new matte blue edition of the TVS Apache RTR bikes. The launch comes at the beginning of the festive season and is sure to cheer up the Apache RTR fanatics and attract new potential customers.

TVS launched the new paint scheme for the bike along with a video on its Apache RTR official YouTube channel. The video is pretty cool with two matte blue edition Apache RTR’s racing around the Buddh International Circuit. TVS calls the new matte blue bike a “True Blue Racer”.

Last year saw TVS release a matte black edition in May, 2014. The launch of the new matte blue edition of the TVS Apache RTR is in line with the previous launch and it does not feature any mechanical updates to the bike. The new paint scheme also features the same liveries that are available in current models. Even the Apache RTR 160 will be available in the new matte blue edition. The new matte blue edition TVS Apache RTR’s will also carry the same price tag as the current models.

The flagship TVS Apache RTR 180 performance bike is powered by the same single-cylinder 177.4 cc engine which delivers a maximum power of 17.03 BHP and 15.5 Nm torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed transmission and bolted onto what TVS calls as the ‘Racing Chassis’. The TVS Apache RTR 180 is capable of doing a 0-60 kmph in 4.5 seconds. The TVS Apache RTR 180 is also available with Dual-Channel ABS as an option.

The launch of this new matte blue edition of the TVS Apache RTR comes just before the expected launch of the new generation 200 cc Apache in November. The new 200 cc Apache is speculated to take design cues from the TVS Draken X21 Concept bike that was unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi. There have been numerous sightings of TVS testing a new bike in the recent months. We believe that TVS is working hard to deliver the new 200 cc bike to the masses soon.

Not to forget that 2016 will see TVS launching many new higher-capacity models as part of their joint venture along with the German motorcycle manufacturer, BMW Motorrad. TVS and BMW have been busy developing a 300 cc bike which is expected to be manufactured in India to keep the production costs low. The recent launch of the BMW Concept Stunt G 310 in Brazil (codenamed TVS-BMW K03) proves that TVS and BMW and have been keeping up with their schedule.

But honestly, TVS has been lagging behind its competition in the recent times without any new performance bikes. We would be happy to see some new bikes from the South-Indian manufacturer soon instead of just new paint schemes to existing models.