Author: Oli Rushby Posted: 28 Jul 2015

Norton is set to begin production of a 1200cc V4 engine platform, likely to be used for a sports bike, after a significant Government cash injection.

The iconic British manufacturer will also begin work on a 650cc twin-cylinder motor with the view of launching a number of new models in coming years.

The V4 platform could see an all-new Norton sports bike hit the market while the 650 could be used in a naked, scrambler or lightweight racer.

The move will see Norton’s Donington Hall premises expand to become a 10,000 square foot training and manufacture facility with building work starting in the next ten days.

Work will then begin on producing the new two platforms, which have been in the design stage for almost a year according to the firm’s CEO Stuart Garner.

“The work on the new platforms has been going for a reasonable while already,” Garner told Bike Social this afternoon. “It’s been a year pulling all this together and a lot of the preparation work and engine design has already begun.”

Garner bought Norton in 2008 and began work on the Commando 961 with the first machines being delivered in 2010. He has since used the 961cc twin platform in two further models, the exclusive Domiracer and Dominator revealed earlier this year.

Today’s news will mean the British marque can further expand its range, with talk of a V4 sports bike on the horizon.

Garner continued: “With the 1200 V4 we will look to put a sports bike together and we’re still evaluating models for the 650, whether it will be a naked, a scrambler or even a lightweight racer – it’s a great engine platform with many opportunities.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne visited Norton’s factory today to announce the investment, which will see 600 jobs created and further support an all-British supply chain.

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£4.29 million of the £7.5 million total investment will come from the Government, with the investment also being used to further bolster the British Motorcycle Manufacturing Association (BMMA) launched in 2014.

“It’s been a great journey since bringing the Norton brand back to the UK and this latest news shows that there’s a strong future ahead for Norton and British manufacturing,” Garner concluded.

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