The following press release just in from Husqvarna Sport Motorcycle GMBH. The legendary Swedish brands Husqvarna and Husaberg will be “reunited” following the acquisition of Husqvarna from BMW by Pierer Industries AG. Immediately, Husqvarna wants to reassure dealers and customers by stating “Parts supply and Customer Service for all Husqvarna models up to and including Model Year 2013 are guaranteed for the years to come and will remain at the current business location in Biandronno (VA), Italy.” The rest of the press release raises some questions however.
Will both brands survive? The press release appears to be issued by the new Husqvarna entity, but it appears below the Husaberg logo. Nevertheless, only a new Husqvarna model lineup is mentioned, along with the statement that “Husqvarna will enter a positive new era by combining its own rich heritage with Husaberg’s state-of-the-art technology.” Will that technology include the radical 70 degree engine developed by Husaberg (pictured above), which was summarily abandoned by Husaberg in 2013 in favor of lighter, but more conventional KTM designs?
The other interesting thing is the apparent refocus on off-road models (along with presumably street-legal supermotos), which reverses the trend started by BMW when it owned Husqvarna. Is Husqvarna going back to the dirt to avoid competition with sister company KTM on the street? Here is the full press release:
The year 2013 will be remembered in motorcycling history as the year that Husqvarna was reborn.
HUSQVARNA STARTS A NEW ERA OF GREAT SUCCESS
Following the acquisition of Husqvarna by Pierer Industries AG and after careful analysis and evaluation of all aspects, it was decided to reunite what came out of shared roots 25 years ago. In other words, Husqvarna will enter a positive new era by combining its own rich heritage with Husaberg’s state-of-the-art technology.
NEW HUSQVARNA MODEL LINEUP TO BE PRESENTED IN OCTOBER
The new generation of Husqvarna models is already in progress: a new line-up, with brand new exclusive design and the latest technology is being developed and will be offered in the segments Enduro, Motocross and Sportminicycles. There will also be exciting, newly developed products in the Supermoto segment – one in which Husqvarna has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years.
DON´T MISS THE PRESENTATION OF THE NEW HUSQVARNA OFFROAD LINEUP IN SWEDEN; PLANNED FOR EARLY OCTOBER 2013. The new line-up will be presented to the big fan community at the international EICMA show in Milan in early November.
HUSQVARNA SPORTMOTORCYCLE GMBH, OPERATIONAL AS OF OCTOBER 2013
As of October 2013, the new group company “Husqvarna Sportmotorcyle GmbH” based in Mattighofen, Austria, will be fully operational in the production and sale of the new model range to the Husqvarna network of dealers and distributors. Parts supply and Customer Service for all Husqvarna models up to and including Model Year 2013 are guaranteed for the years to come and will remain at the current business location in Biandronno (VA), Italy.
Here is another 70deg motor owner hoping that the technology returns. I went through many bikes trying to find one that could do all I ask and the big FE is the first.
Smooth enough to do 50 miles at 60mph, light enough to do gnarly single track, enough power to wheelie over train tracks, potholes, sidewalks, all with FI and E-start.
It’s got the power of the LC4 KTM’s, within a few lbs of YZ’s, high end components of the KTM RFS, smoothness of the big XR’s, and with centralized mass it handles like my sons 250.
I was sad to see them do away with this configuration…
2014 Husqvarna’s to have the 70deg engine from the old Husaberg range? I find that hard to see happening. More likely all 2014 Husqvarna’s, Husaberg’s and KTM’s will be the same bikes wearing different clothes, whish makes me sad. So much for heritage.
I just hope they bring the Nuda to the US in some form. Different motor, whatever. I’m not too fond of that funky looking one that reminds me of my old Honda SL70 though.
maybe with husky ktm can give us the modern version of the 640 adventure that many of us have been building our self.
Huskys, Bergs and KTMs are all really cool and sexy… ride with a bunch of guys that all have the newest latest and greatest of them all, and I will say they are really fast at starting … but that is a good thing it means I dont have to wait as long for them to catch up to me on my old XR650r …
As Husqvarna is the brand name with the 100 year history, it is doubtful it would be dropped. So expect to see Husaberg’s quietly morph into Husqvarnas. After all, it was disaffected Husqvarna technicians who started up Husaberg in Sweden after the Castiglionis took everything ti Italy. Does anyone here remember Huskies glory days in US off-road racing?
re: “As Husqvarna is the brand name with the 100 year history”
it’s a brand actually heard on american TV, albeit in the context of lawnmower commercials. just saw one 2 days ago.
Now they can buy up whatever’s left of Highland motorcycles and all the loose strands will be back together. There can be only ONE!
Husquaberg? Husavarna?
Bultaco? Hodaka?
I think of engineers dressed as the Swedish Chef from the Muppett Show…….
I just spit coffee out my nose on that one.
I make the Squirrly stew now! (Squirrels head pops up out of the pot)
look, someone turned the engine backwards?
I have one of the 70° Husaberg’s. Its an awesome motorcycle, I was a little sad to see them replaced by blues KTM’s. This engine layout really works.
re: “This engine layout really works.”
it’s called the engine layout of every PW50 made since ’81.
Has always reminded me of the, slanted, 150cc singles from Laverda / Garelli / American Eagle.
What a dork.
I hope Husky can return to it’s former glory