Tokyo based Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) has announced that it is going to restructure its operating divisions. The changes will see the Motorcycle and Engine business unit being spun-off as a separate, stand-alone company.
KHI will focus on an integrated Ship and Offshore Structure, Energy System and Plant Engineering portfolio from April 2021; the current Rolling Stock division will also be spun off.
Kawasaki's businesses will be operated in three groups - Land & Air Transportation Systems, Motion Control & Motor Vehicles, and Energy & Marine Engineering - "making the collaboration between each business more effective".
 |
| The new Z125 - four-stroke A1, A2 and B licence-friendly 15 PS (11 kW) engine with lashings of 'Sugomi' - Kawasaki's 'Art of Motion' design concept. |
 |
| The 2021 Versys 1000 SE features Showa 'Skyhook' technology. |
The Power Sports business, which comprises a part of the existing Motorcycle and Engine division (which includes motorcycles and off-road four-wheelers), is Kawasaki's only mass-production consumer-facing business.
Its Q2 results (July, August and September 2020) show Motorcycle and Engine division net sales revenue down by -7.4% over the corresponding period in 2019 at 139.7bn yen, with an operating loss of -5.1bn, from -3.3bn for the year-ago period.
 |
| Courtney Duncan (New Zealand) and DRT Kawasaki won their second consecutive FIM World WMX Women's Motocross Championship title after an exciting final round at Pietramurata in northern Italy. |
 |
| Ninja ZX-10R - "contemporary and future thinking on Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Technology and Self-Driving Vehicles," according to Mr Masanori Inoue |
Motorcycle unit sales for developed markets were 61,000 (worth 48.9bn yen) compared to 67,000 units in the year-ago quarter (worth 50.3bn yen). In emerging markets, unit sales were 81,000 units (44.7bn yen) compared to 158,000 units for the year-ago quarter (worth 36.2bn yen) for a worldwide total of 180,000 units worth 139.7bn yen for the quarter (compared to 257,000 units/147.2bn yen for 2019 Q2).
In addition to adding two new Z900RS options for 2021, there are three new Versys Thousands. Kawasaki's venerable water-cooled, cassette gearbox equipped 650 twin engine is once again powering new iterations of the Ninja 650, Versys 650 and Z650 for the coming season. Off-road updates include for the Z125 and Ninja 125 range naked and track-style entry level machines for 2021.
 |
| As race seasons go, 2020 will be in the record books, but not only for the racing and the results. It has been the strangest of years as the truncated and rebuilt schedules dodged the waves of the pandemic that have swept the world since February. Kawasaki will remember it well though, with Johnathan Rea scooping a sixth WorldSBK Championship and giving the Kawasaki WorldSBK racing team another coveted manufacturer championship. But there was glory on the WSBK undercard too for 'Big Green', with the Kawasaki Pucetti Racing team seeing Lucas Mahias and Philipp Oetti score 2nd and 3rd respectively in the WorldSSP, and Jeffrey Buis win the WorldSSP300 for MTM Kawasaki Motoport. |
 |
| 2021 Z H2 Hypernaked Supercharged Special Edition |
In announcing the Ninja ZX-10R and its "ultimate performance partner", the ZX-10RR, Kawasaki is showcasing new technology under its 'Rideology' banner, "encompassing contemporary and future thinking on Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Technology and Self-Driving Vehicles," according to Mr Masanori Inoue, General Manager, Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company (the former Managing Director of Kawasaki in Europe).
The new Ninja "aero-package" debuts the Integrated Winglet Technology "responsible for achieving seventeen percent more downforce compared to the current model. A redesigned rear seat contributes to an area of low pressure behind the rider, in addition to new footpeg positioning, a 40 mm higher screen and adjustable handlebars".
The RR sees the adoption of Pankl pistons and matched piston pins mated to Pankl connecting rods, Marchesini wheels, braided brake hoses and a 400 rpm greater maximum rev capacity compared to the standard ZX-10R.
The Special Edition supercharged Z H2 SE sees the addition of Brembo Stylema calipers and a Brembo radial master cylinder
