Back in 1993 Piaggio had developed the Hexagon, which became the world’s first so called GT scooter. Through the X7 to the all new X10, Piaggio has developed its new flagship scooter, and in Paris I got to sample the 350cc version of the X10.

Piaggio will offer the X10 as a 125, 350 and 500cc version. When I arrived in Paris I was told that the 500cc version wouldn’t hit production until in May 2012, so I had to make do with the 350cc version which proved to be a nippy tool around Paris’s busy streets. Continue Reading »

The Piaggio X10 slipped a little under the radar at the 2011 EICMA show behind other maxi-scooters such as Yamaha’s T-Max, BMW’s C650GT and C600 Sport and Piaggio’s own Aprilia SRV850. But take a look at some of the features Piaggio’s slapped onto the X10 and you’ll soon learn it’s not to be underestimated.

The new flagship of Piaggio’s “Gran Turismo” scooter family, the X10 is equipped with anti-lock brakes anti-slip regulation (i.e. traction control) and electronically adjustable rear suspension.

Piaggio has already introduced ABS and ASR on the Beverly 350 (though the U.S. version, the BV350, won’t have either feature), but electronically adjustable suspension is new. Available on the 500 version of the X10 (Piaggio’s also offering 125 and 350 versions), riders can adjust the preload on the rear suspension with a pair of buttons located on the leg shield near the ignition key. Continue Reading »

Moto Guzzi released a video featuring Marco Lambri, director of Piaggio Group style, and Miguel Galluzzi, vice-president of design discussing the new Moto Guzzi California 1400 and Piaggios’s planned Advanced Design Center in Pasadena, Calif.

Galluzzi says the model displayed at Piaggio Group Americas’ dealer convention in Miami last week is just one variation for the California. Galluzzi says Moto Guzzi will release a full dressed touring version this autumn, with the single-seat version to follow, as well as at least one more.

“I think we were able to create something that is still appealing to many, many customers in the world but with the Italian flavor that Moto Guzzi has.” says Galluzzi. Continue Reading »

The new Aprilia SRV850 V-Twin maxi-scooter is coming to North America, likely slated to arrive later this year as a 2013 model. The Piaggio Group presented the SRV850 alongside the Vespa 946, Aprila Caponord 1200 and Moto Guzzi California 1400 at its North American dealer meeting in Miami, Fla.

Piaggio announced it will bring all four of those models to North America, though as yet only the California has a launch date, set for fall 2012. The SRV850 will likely arrive at the same time, if not earlier, as the scooter has already been launched in Europe. Continue Reading »

Piaggio confirmed it will be importing the production version of its Vespa 946 (a.k.a. the “Quarantasei“) to North America, representing the next generation of scooters from the iconic Italian brand. The 946 was presented alongside the Aprilia Caponord 1200 and Moto Guzzi California 1400 at Piaggio’s North American dealer meeting last week in Miami. No dates were announced for the Vespa 946 but odds are it will arrive on these shores in late 2012 as a 2013 models alongside the Caponord and new California.

The Vespa 946 was first unveiled at the 2011 EICMA show as the Quarantasei concept model. “Quarantasei” is Italian for 46, which represents the year 1946 when Vespa first began producing scooters, but the design represents more about Vespa’s future than it does the past.

The 946 maintains Vespa’s signature design elements while adding futuristic style elements from its metallic paint, hanging seat and swooping lines.

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Piaggio announced it will import its new Beverly 350 Sport Touring scooter to the U.S., though it may be missing its two most noteworthy features.

The 2012 Piaggio BV 350 (as it will be called in North America) is equipped with a new frame and a next-generation Piaggio scooter engine. Not mentioned however, but available in European models, is ABS and anti-slip regulation (i.e. traction control), both firsts for a production scooter. Some might argue whether those features are necessary for a 350cc scooter; Piaggio Group Americas doesn’t seem to think so, at least not at the BV350′s $5499 price level.

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Piaggio announced it is opening a new design center in Pasadena, Calif., to be headed by Aprilia RSV4 designer Miguel Galluzzi.

Roberto Colaninno, chairman and chief executive officer of  the Piaggio Group, announced plans for the new Advanced Design Center at a dealer convention for the Piaggio Group Americas in Miami, Fla. At the moment, North American customers usually have to wait a little longer before they receive new Piaggio models, with most models arriving on these shores months after they are available in Europe. Hopefully, the new design center will help new models arrive sooner.

The new design center will work closely with Piaggio’s main style center as well as research and development centers in Italy, China, India and Vietnam. This network forms part of what Piaggio calls an “intelligence globalization” policy. Continue Reading »

Piaggio confirmed it will introduce the new Aprilia Caponord 1200 and Moto Guzzi California 1400 to the U.S. market this fall.

The announcement was made at Piaggio Group Americas’ dealer convention in Miami, Fla. News of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 (pictured above) and the Aprilia Caponord first leaked from Piaggio’s European dealer meeting in February, but this announcement is the first official confirmation about either model from Piaggio.

The Moto Guzzi California 1400 replaces the current 1100 version, which is available this year in a limited edition version celebrating the 90th anniversary of Moto Guzzi. Unlike the air-cooled 1100, the new California 1400′s 90-degree V-Twin engine is liquid-cooled. Continue Reading »

The Piaggio Group has opened a new engine production facility in Vietnam as part of the company’s plan to more than double capacity of its Vietnamese manufacturing to 300,000 units a year.

The new facility, located near Hanoi, will initially begin making 200,000 scooter engines a year, but production will scale up to 300,000 to match increased production at Piaggio’s existing vehicle assembly plant. Piaggio has big plans for the Asian market which, the company predicts, will make up 50% of the company’s revenue by 2014.

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The Piaggio Group reported a 9.8% increase in net income in 2011 thanks to rising demand for scooters and increased sales in Asia.

According to Piaggio‘s annual fiscal report, the Italian company made a profit of 47.0 million (US$62.6 million) in 2011, compared to a net profit of 42.8 million euros in 2010. Net sales reached 1.52 billion euros (US$2.02 billion) in 2011, a year-on-year increase of 2.1% from the 1.49 billion euros reported in 2010.

Motorcycle sales totaled 38,300 units, a 4.0% decrease from the 39,900 units sold in 2010. Scooter sales however increased 6.1% to 376,700 units from 355,100 units. Piaggio’s commercial vehicle division also saw a 2.1% increase to 238,300 units from 233,400 units.

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