To represent its new HOREX VR6 models, the company sent the exclusive HOREX VR6 Black Edition to Essen to participate in the Red Dot Design Award 2016. The exceptional motorcycle with the carbon-fibre steering head frame and VR6 cylinder faced stiff competition from more than 5,200 products in more than 600 categories.

With 41 experts from all around the world, who are chosen according to strict rules, the Red DotAward : Product Design guarantees a very high judging competence: Only freelance designers, design professors and specialised journalists – but not designers employed at companies potentially participating – are appointed to the jury.

The independent expert panel assesses each entry strictly and fairly, live and on site, according to criteria such as degree of innovation, formal quality, functionality and ecological compatibility. Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and president of the Red Dot Award: “With their performances, the Red Dot winners not only demonstrated an extraordinary design quality, but they also showed that design is an integral part of innovative product solutions.”

The Red Dot is an even greater honour for 3C-Carbon Group’s young and ambitious HOREX design and development team as the vehicle and component designs were almost 100% developed in-house. The prize is also a distinction for the new HOREX VR6 models: a combination of classic design from historical HOREX motorcycles using innovative technologies (including ground-breaking lightweight carbon fibre structures and high-tech components like LED headlamps), excellent motors and a mix of materials of unparalleled quality. In addition to validation for past work, the Red Dot Award also serves as encouragement for future HOREX models.

More about the Red Dot Design Award: The Red Dot Award is organised by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen. With more than 17,000 submissions in 2015 alone, it is one of the largest competitions of its kind in the world. It was in 1955 that a jury convened for the first time to assess the best designs of the day. Since then the sought-after “Red Dot” is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality.

Traditional German brand HOREX, now managed by 3C-Carbon Group AG, was accepted as the newest IVM member on 2 March 2016, and then went on to attract attention at the Dortmund Motorcycle Show one day later with its new series production models.

This marks the first time that HOREX has been a proper member of this body, and the company looks forward to supporting the leading motorcycle industry association in its work.

The German Motorcycle Industry Association e.V. represents the motorcycle industry in Germany. One of its goals is to increase acceptance of motorised two-wheeled vehicles.

Both the VR6 Classic and the one-seater VR6 Café Racer are produced to the same exacting standards as the limited-run special edition VR6 Silver Edition and VR6 Black Edition. They also use the same proven VR6 engine as the limited edition models. It uniquely combines compactness and performance and achieves a slightly reduced output for the series production models (163 HP instead of 171). It has once again been thoroughly optimised and improved for a powerful acceleration and perfect driveability. The highest standards of driving experience, quality and value have been applied.

Innovative lightweight technology – also for series production models

Thanks to the use of lightweight carbon fibre technology for many newly developed components, the new HOREX series production models also tip the scales at weights totally ready for competition: 219 kg (Café Racer) or 224 kg (Classic). The Café Racer series, like the HOREX VR6 Black Edition, is the first series production motorcycle to use a carbon fibre steering head frame. This first-to-market development was driven by parent company 3C-Carbon Group AG, further emphasising HOREX’s
lead in high-technology lightweight solutions.

These new series production models also enjoy generous standard equipment. This includes state-of-the-art ABS, carbon fibre front and rear mudguards, lithium ion battery, a full LED headlamp and an immobiliser.

The vehicle and component design for the brand new VR6 models was carried out almost entirely inhouse, and the HOREX VR6 Black Edition has already been awarded with the 2016 Red Dot Design Award. The specialists at 3C-Carbon Group have also set new standards in materials and processing quality.

There’s something very special behind each HOREX VR6

Each engine and bike is assembled into a masterpiece with great passion via a state-of-the-art manufacturing process. Every step is monitored and documented using modern quality control systems. Each HOREX VR6 can be tailored and configured according to the client’s personal requests. Both HOREX series production models, for example, are available in new colours exclusive to HOREX.

The HOREX VR6 Café Racer is available in high-end HOREX Black, HOREX Silver or HOREX Crystal White. The side heritage design stripes are also available in gold, silver or red. The HOREX VR6 Classic is available in HOREX Racing Green, HOREX Dark Red, HOREX Brown and HOREX Crystal White together with heritage stripes in gold, silver or metallic black. The seat of the HOREX VR6 is made from top-quality leather – even finer than that used by the exclusivity departments of automotive manufacturers. Clients can choose between brown and black HOREX leather colours.

HOREX sales network

The development of the HOREX sales network is running at full speed. The focus of the new sales team is the exclusive client experience. In addition to quality and excellence, a premium product in a defined high-end segment of the motorcycle market requires comprehensive service to provide the special HOREX experience. The client will always be given a choice between different options:

• Service at the production site in Landsberg am Lech (with return shuttle service)
• Service at one of HOREX’s production workshops (initially Bad Homburg and Landsberg am Lech)
• Service at an exclusive HOREX dealer close to the customer

Sales launch and prices

The HOREX VR6 Classic and VR6 Café Racer will go on sale in June 2016. Models can be configured and reserved before this date via the HOREX website (www.horex.com). A vehicle configuration tool will be unveiled in early April. Prices will start at EUR 38,500 (Classic) and EUR 42,500 (Café Racer), both including German VAT.

HOREX will start the new motorcycling year of 2016 with the well-advertised world premiere of the new HOREX VR6 production models, which have been developed over the winter by the young and ambitious team in Landsberg am Lech. So we can look forward to the moment when the covers come off on 3 March 2016 at the Dortmund Motorcycle Show and the new HOREX VR6 models are ceremonially unveiled.

Indeed, the trade show year starts for HOREX in Zurich on 18 February. If you have not yet had the opportunity to see the HOREX VR6 Silver Edition and HOREX VR6 Black close up, take the opportunity to do so at Swiss Moto in Zurich from 18 to 21 February. The two limited-edition models will be on display there in front of the exhibition, to start the countdown for the world premieres in March…