(Wow! The Fenderlight is coming to AMERICA?! [and other suprises])
Dang. In my preoccupation I’ve missed out on some important Piaggio scoops. Namely these hot tidbits courtesy of 2strokebuzz:
1) The MP3 will feature Piaggio’s 250cc electronic-fuel-injected QUASAR engine, the same engine found in the Vespa GTS. W00t! I personally am happy they didn’t start us off with the 125cc version, I mean, I’m happy with my 125cc and all… but that thing was just TOO big for such small displacement IMHO.
2) The MP3 will not be called the MP3 in America. I was gonna say “beetle”, in Italian, but it’s already taken with “scarabeo “. How about Triton? Or the Piaggio Triciclo? Italian for Tricycle, haha.
3) The, as of now unnamed in America Piaggio 3 wheeler, will be on showroom floors this March or April.
4) Piaggio/Vespa MSRP price increases will go into effect November 1st. Ouch!
5) This one is pretty important so I’m just gonna paste it below from the 2SB post:
PiaggioUSA will soon announce the 60th anniversary models. Only 250 individually-numbered GT60s will be sold in the U.S. The bikes feature grey paint to match the original Vespa MP6 prototype, with a fender light and a leather seat. Other goodies include a wallet, key fob, book, and custom satin cover. The owner’s initials will be engraved on a silver plate mounted to the scooter. The 60th-anniversary GTV and LXV models will be a darker “Aveo Grey” with brown leather seats and retro-style speedometers. MSRP for the LXV is $5199, so we figure the GT60 is one of those things where, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
6) Piaggio has some new models to announce, but not until the MP3 has had it’s time in the limelight.
7) And, as Dudel mentioned in his comments the other day:
2007 USA scooter models:
* No more Scarabeo 250
* Scarabeo 100 4T as a new model
* Sport City 250 scooter
* Mojito 150 comes back to USA
* Scarabeo 50 4T gets new taillight, and is cheaper
* New Scarabeo 500 is a revamped BV500
* MP3 (or whatever it’ll be called here) will retail for $6999
Thanks to Illnoise and Dudel for keep us in the loop for this weeks Piaggio dealer meeting… which I wasn’t invited to… just an hour away from my house.
5. October 2006 at 3:34 pm
Funny you should say “Triton”. At the meeting, Dan Kay suggested “Trident” (despite Triumph already using that name, and there was also a Triton m/c I believe) and the PUSA brand manager replied with “Three out of four dentists…” If VespaUSA has its way, it will likely be something along those lines, If Pontadera wins, it’ll be called the FY7 or 95E or something.
5. October 2006 at 11:55 pm
The GT60 price tag is $7299.00 and a limited number of only 250 will be brought to the USA.
6. October 2006 at 2:23 pm
I work for a vespa shop, and we were told january. Also the original project name was the X3, and I like that because it looks like the X9
6. October 2006 at 7:58 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t invited either. :-)
7. October 2006 at 8:35 pm
The Piaggio 3-wheeler uses the 250-quasar engine (22-hp at the shaft) which is the same engine as the Vespa GTS 250.
10. October 2006 at 1:44 pm
Woohoo! I got to ride an MP3! I don’t feel so bad now. (Sorry Crystal)
I’ll give a preview report very shortly.
(Catching up from a weekend outta town)