(woohoo! I can’t wait to do THIS)
This could be the biggest news to hit all year… Are you ready? (takes grain of salt) The grapevine known as the ModernVespa Forum (see title link) has word from “Lucky Bastard”, that the attendees of the recent Piaggio dealer meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona were informed that the USA will be receiving the Gilera Fuoco 500 as the MP3-500 from Piaggio for 2008.
This is HOT off the rumor mill STOP THE PRESS!
Here’s what we’ve got confirmed so far… For 2008 Piaggio will bring us the MP3-400 (which resembles the current MP3-250) and the MP3-500, which is a rebadged Gilera Fuoco 500! The image above is actual-factual. This week, the Piaggio / Vespa shop owners are in Arizona getting the hottest scoop available. Thanks to Dudel for the “first blood” on this story. We hear that the Vespa S may be included in the 2008 line-up, but nothing is confirmed yet.
Thanks again to “Lucky Bastard” for sharing this image with the ModernVespa crew!
Stay tuned for MORE!
***UPDATE 9/18/07***
I’m starting to scrounge up some tidbits, this is what I’m hearing:
The Piaggio MP3-400 (In the current MP3 body style except with the extra power we’ve all been waiting for) will be arriving at dealerships as soon as January.
The Piaggio MP3-500 (A rebadged Gilera Fuoco 500) will arrive around March with an expected MSRP approaching the $10k mark. Well, what did you expect? Hotness has a price.
The elusive Vespa S (the cute one with the thin leg shields and rectangular headlight) is supposed to arrive before Q2, 2008 with a 150cc engine and an MSRP of about $4,000.
These bits are not from the “official” source, but I don’t have reason to disbelieve what I’m hearing right now. So, we are awaiting “official” word, which should bubble up between now and Tuesday with the inclusion of some specs, photos and official MSRP numbers. Stay tuned!
***UPDATE 9/19/07***
The Honky-Tonk Dragon is droppin’ THESE numbers for MSRP:
“Per a reliable source on Modern Vespa”
The 250 will be $7199 next year (They are $6999 right now).
The 400 will be $8699 and the 500 will be $8899.
And the Vespa S 150 will be $4099
18. September 2007 at 7:35 pm
putting my deposit down thursday…so i guess this is for real…
g
18. September 2007 at 11:10 pm
Interesting, the Vespa S will cost less than the LX?
19. September 2007 at 3:46 am
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!
*Gets inhaler*
OMG! OMG! OMG!
19. September 2007 at 3:48 am
Just bring the cool-looking, bad ass Gilera Fuoco 500 here AS IS! And bring the zippy Gilera Runner, too!
19. September 2007 at 5:21 am
From a dealer on the Wildgoose Guzzi forum, “Also, we sell Aprilias, too. Amongst this year’s scooter lineup is an Aprilia made in China. It’s coming, and soon…”
19. September 2007 at 8:38 am
What zaspa said…
Man, I’m getting one of these, if it means months of eating of Ramen!
19. September 2007 at 6:18 pm
a Silverwing is $8K or more, so I know which I’d pick, but still, I’d never pay that much for a scooter. I’d rather have a Triumph Scrambler or Ducati 650.
20. September 2007 at 4:11 am
H-T Dragon,
Don’t you mean “years” of eating Ramen?!
6. October 2007 at 7:34 pm
I paid $6998.00 for my Gilera Fuoco 500 in Milan earlier this year. I sold it for a profit in Naples last month. You have got to ride this thing to understand what inovation means.