Vespa 946
The Vespa 946 is a motor scooter from the manufacturer Piaggio , which sells its classic product line under the brand name Vespa .
prehistory
With the Vespa Quarantasei ( Italian for 46) design study presented in 2011 , which is reminiscent of the very first Vespa, the MP6 from 1946, Piaggio presented a new generation of air-cooled three-valve four-stroke engines with 125 cm³ and 150 cm³, which will be used in the Vespa from 2012 LX and later in other Piaggio scooters. Conjectures that Piaggio also wanted to test how this design would be received with this vehicle study could neither be confirmed nor refuted - the interest of the public in the design was then overwhelming that Piaggio decided to go into series production.
presentation
At EICMA 2012, the Vespa 946 was presented as a model suitable for everyday use with the well-known air-cooled three-valve four-stroke engines with 125 cm³ and 150 cm³. The chassis is made of sheet steel, but some elements such as the front fender, the handlebars and the side covers are made of an aluminum alloy. A horizontally mounted gas pressure spring element ( monoshock ) is used in the rear axle . In addition, it is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control (ASR) . The headlight consists exclusively of LED lights.
design
The design comes from the Piaggio designers under Marco Lambri, Mirko Zocco and Marco Canepa from the Piaggio Design Center . Based on the question of what the Vespa could look like in 2020, the radical and yet clear approach to the 946 was born. On the one hand, highly modern, the 946 is nevertheless based on numerous models from history, such as the "low tail" of the Vespa MP6 picked up, or the floating saddle that cites a swinging saddle. But the engine, the digital fittings and the light are modern. On the other hand, the question of storage space was resolved puristically - the first Vespa didn't have any either. Instead, there is an easily mountable luggage rack as an accessory.
Model history
| year | Colours | nickname | comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | White black | Ricordo Italiano | |
| 2014 | gray, blue | Orgoglio Italiano | |
| 2014 | gray, blue | Bellissima | Special model |
| 2015 | Matt black | Emporio Armani | Special model |
| 2016 | red | (Vespa) RED | Special model |
In 2013 the Vespa 946 was offered in white and black at a price of 9,000 euros; Of the production limited to 3600 vehicles, which bears the nickname Ricordo Italiano , 300 are intended for Germany and 200 for Austria, although only the model with 125 cm³ was offered. The vehicles were produced in May 2013.
The Vespa 946 was supposed to be a new edition every year, but different colors were planned for each year and colors that had already appeared should no longer be used. So you can tell the year of manufacture of a Vespa 946 from the color. In addition, the nickname of the edition was engraved on the metal cover on the right under the saddle. In addition, special models with slightly different equipment should also be launched. The special model Belissima u. a. a shortened saddle, which can be extended for a passenger, and a luggage rack.
marketing
Piaggio presented the prototype and the production version of the 946 at the EICMA and dispensed with an elaborate presentation of the Vespa 946. Instead, detailed articles about the 946 appear in business and lifestyle magazines, with a vehicle being made available to the editors for several days becomes. In addition, each new year is presented in the media.
criticism
The unbalanced price-performance ratio was always the focus of criticism. The price did not match what was on offer, with an output of 8.5 kW (11.6 hp) the Vespa 946 was even slower than the somewhat lighter Vespa LX with the same engine. The lack of storage space and the lack of comfort for the pillion passenger were also criticized. In contrast, the design, which was thought through down to the last detail, was received very positively.
Model overview
| Vespa 946 125 i. e. 3V | |
|---|---|
| construction time | 2013-2019 |
| Frame number prefix | |
| Engine type | LEM four-stroke engine, air-cooled, 3 valves |
| Mixture preparation | electronic injection |
| Displacement | 124 cc |
| Bore × stroke (mm) | 52.0 x 58.6 |
| Max. Power (PS) at 1 / min |
8.5 kW (11.6 hp) 8250 |
| Max. Torque at 1 / min |
10.7 Nm 6500 |
| transmission | stepless variomatic transmission with centrifugal clutch |
| Role dimension and weight |
19x17 8.7 g |
| Top speed | approx. 93 km / h |
| Tires | 12 inch tires |
| Tank capacity | approx. 8 liters |
| Emission standard | Euro 3 / Euro 4 |
| Service intervals | 10,000 km |
| price | ~ 10,000 € (2019) |
Web links
- http://www.vespa946.com/ Official site of Piaggio
- http://www.vespa.at/modellwahl/946/ Model overview at the Vespa general importer in Austria
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.motomobil.at/newsstories/interviews/557-vespa-946-designer-mirko-zocco
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from February 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Corriere Nazionale qui Valdera, accessed February 14, 2014
- ↑ The New $ 10,000 Vespa 946: Perfect For a Two-Wheeled Fling Vespa 946 in Forbes Magazine
- ^ First Times Ride: All-new Vespa 946 Vespa 946 in the Los Angeles Times
- ↑ Vespa for 9,000 euros The super-expensive Vespa 946 playmobile in the Süddeutsche Zeitung
- ↑ 946 - the beautiful retro Vespa Vespa 946 in the Hamburger Abendblatt
