Benelli Leoncino 250 Updated with Euro-5 Engine and Minute Visual Tweaks, Launched in Europe

Benelli has revealed the 2022 iteration of one of its entry-level models, the Leoncino 250, for the European markets. This time around, the changes to the Benelli Leoncino 250 are restricted to only cosmetic iterations and minute tweaks to its engine, which has made it Euro-5 compliant. The updated Benelli Leoncino 250 has been launched in Europe for €3,740 (around Rs 3.2 lakh).

Coming to the changes in its design, the new Benelli Leoncino 250 has retained the sporty roadster like styling in the stance of a scrambler. However, there are new body decals on the 12.5-litre fuel tank and side body panels. All the panels beneath them, including engine, frame, alloy wheels and even the ‘lion cub’ mascot sitting on the front fender have been finished in black. The biggest visual change, however, is the introduction of a new LED headlamp, which though sit within the same ovular casing. Apart from these, the Leoncino 250 continues to get LED turn indicators and tail lamp, rounded view mirrors, rear tyre hugger with number plate mounted on it, a long single-seat, silver-finished handlebar levers and a full LCD instrument console.

The Benelli Leoncino 250 continues to get the same four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 250cc engine, which has been altered with new components to make it Euro-5 compliant. The engine continues to come paired to a 6-speed gearbox, the engine now makes 25.4 bhp @ 9,250 rpm of maximum power and 21 Nm @ 8,000 rpm of maximum torque.

There are no changes to the basic skeleton of the Benelli Leoncino 250, as the motorcycle continues to get a tubular frame with 41mm upside-down hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. The 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels are wrapped with soft-compound tubeless tyres. With petal disc brakes at both ends, the motorcycle gets a dual-channel ABS as standard.

The BS4-spec Benelli Leoncino 250 was available in India for a brief time, before the BS6 emission norms came into effect. However, now the Euro-5 version of the motorcycle has been unveiled, it’s only a matter of time before it gets launched in India. Before it was discontinued in India, the Benelli Leoncino 250 was on sale for an absurdly high price point of Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom, India) and competed with similarly priced but more powerful motorcycles like BMW G 310 R, Honda CB 300R and KTM Duke 390.

If it launches back in India, the Benelli Leoncino 250 has to be priced sensibly in the range of Rs. 2-2.25 lakh. This will justify its package and make it compete with similarly powerful motorcycles like Husqvarna Svartpilen 250, Suzuki Gixxer 250, KTM Duke 250 and Bajaj Dominar 400. For the time being, Benelli has confirmed that it is bringing the TRK 251 adventure tourer motorcycle to India, which coincidentally uses the same engine and gearbox combination from the Leoncino 250.

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