Piaggio MP3 3 wheel scooter
The PIAGGIO MP3 continues a tradition of innovation. It is a three-wheeler with two front wheels
Read Motoaus’ Ride Report on the MP3: Click here
Piaggio launched the first Vespa model and with it the scooter phenomenon in the spring of 1946. The scooter revolutionised personal transport, and helped liberate a war torn Italy through mobility.
The PIAGGIO MP3 continues a tradition of innovation. It is a three-wheeler with two front wheels. The PIAGGIO MP3 provides safety, road grip and stability levels that no two-wheeler can match. The front assembly, with two independent tilting wheels, is more stable than any scooter. Power and performance provide a very satisfying ride. In town and city traffic the PIAGGIO MP3 provides unique benefits. The full extent of this threewheeler’s grip and stability is revealed on wet surfaces and adverse riding conditions that can sometimes challenge a traditional two-wheeler.
It takes on cobblestone streets, patchy asphalt and tram tracks with the greatest of ease, with unmatched safety and grip for a vehicle that is also unhindered by traffic congestion. It’s a cinch to park. An electro-hydraulic tilt-locking system means there is no need to put the vehicle on its stand although one is provided for ease of servicing. Simply flick the lean-locking button and apply the parking brake. The system will operate at any angle so you don’t need to find a level parking area. The revolutionary PIAGGIO MP3 requires far less braking distances than any other scooter.
The three-disk braking system and exceptional front-end road-holding reduce braking distance by 20 per cent compared to the best scooters. The PIAGGIO MP3 continues to impress when heading out of town. Its road grip, cornering safety and tilt angle of up to 40 degrees are unprecedented for a scooter, adding to the pleasure of riding different road surfaces at highway speeds. A large range of accessories extend the range of situations where the MP3 can be used. There is a maxi windscreen for riders who experience considerable foul weather, a lap rug for the colder climates and a top box to extend the already considerable under-seat storage. These are regularly sought after items in Europe where everyday scooter usage has existed since 1946. A similar pattern is emerging in Australia.
The PIAGGIO MP3 will be available in two engine displacements, 250 and 400 cc, both up-to-date 4-stroke, 4-valve, liquid-cooled units in line with Europe’s tough Euro3 emissions standards. The 250cc model is on sale from October 8 2007 while the 400cc will go on sale in January 2008. The Gilera (part of the Piaggio family) Fuoco 500 3-wheel model will go on sale in November 2007. The Piaggio MP3 is type-approved as a standard two wheeled motorcycle. This means licensing and registration requirements are the same for the MP3 as for a motorcycle.
"Not since Enrico Piaggio introduced Vespa to the world in 1946 have we seen such a revolution in transport for individual mobility", said Piaggio’s Brand Manager Simon Gloyne. He added, "It has taken 6 decades for Australia to embrace scooters into our culture. Sure, the culture of the 4 car family in the suburbs is well ingrained, but as fuel prices increase and our Urban areas become more consolidated, the time continues to be right for scooters. We are not experiencing a scooter craze, we are experiencing a monumental shift in the way we think about our personal transport needs".
This innovative vehicle marks the start of a new personal transport revolution from Piaggio. The Piaggio company, nestled in the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Pisa, first invented scooters in 1946 when they produced the first ever Vespa. Today Piaggio continues to produce scooters under the classic Vespa brand, the sporty Gilera brand and the contemporary Piaggio brand. In Australia, the Piaggio brand offers an extensive range of quality Italian scooters from 50cc to 500cc.
The 250cc model is now on sale at $10,990 (plus ORC), while the 400 will go on sale in January next year, with pricing yet to be announced. In addition, the 500cc Gilera Fuoco (Gilera is also a part of the Piaggio group), built on the same technological template as the MP3, will go on sale in November this year.
Piaggio MP3 features
* Powerful and economical 250cc fuel-injected liquid-cooled four-stroke engine
* Electric start
* Front assembly with dual independent tilting wheels providing a lean angle of up to 40 degrees
* Electro-hydraulic front suspension locking system that keeps vehicle upright without using the centrestand
* Rear and underseat lockable storage space
* Analogue dash with speedo and large clock
* Three-disc braking system
* No wider than comparable two-wheel maxi scooters
* Handbrake for parking
* Low-emission, environmentally friendly Euro 3 compliant
* Two-year unlimited kilometre warranty Available Colours Azzuro Sky – Sky Blue Grigio Excalibur – Silver Nero Graffite – Black Graphite Rosso Cherry – Burgundy
About Piaggio
The Piaggio company, nestled in the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Pisa, first invented scooters in 1946 when it produced the first-ever Vespa and helped liberate a war-torn Italy. Vespa remains the iconic scooter brand with its unique metal-bodied design. Today, Piaggio continues to produce scooters under the classic Vespa brand, the sporty Gilera brand and the contemporary Piaggio brand. In Australia, PS Importers is the sole importer of this iconic and popular range.
About Vespa
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday were the first of a long series of international actors and actresses to be seen on the world’s most famous scooter. In photo shoots, films and on the set, the Vespa has been a "travel companion" for names like Raquel Welch, Ursula Andress, Geraldine Chaplin, Joan Collins, Jayne Mansfield, Milla Jovovich, Charlton Heston, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Sting, Antonio Banderas, Matt Damon, Gérard Depardieu, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson.
