Modern Vespa

...as a 150cc, we should assume...?

And those dadgum DOT reflectors. I just hope they don't put earrings on it.

Not confirmed yet, but most likely yes, and it will be the 3v engine.

Hopefully they won't mess it up...

Is that to say it wont be in NA till 2014, or anywhere till then?

If its not to be anywhere till then, certain advertised aspects may change by then as production gets closer (in which case the Eicma display showed a non-production model.?)

In other words if its not in production or ready to go into production now many of its special elements...aluminum componentry etc may end up being costed-out.

I would guess it's more likely that Europe will be seeing it soon-ish, and Piaggio is just going to take their time with the modifications to qualify for DOT approval.

Bike is released in Europe in the spring. U.S later as it takes time to certify to U.S EPA and D.O.T, mainly because of the new 3v engine.

This IS the final product.

This is legitimate correspondence minus the header and the sig line.

"Vespa recently unveiled the Vespa 946, the most exciting new scooter in recent memory, at the 2012 EICMA convention in Milan, Italy. There is a lot of speculation in the media about what models are coming to market, when they are coming, and at what price. This is typical each year after the EICMA show so we're here to give you reliable information on this highly anticipated model. Currently, the Vespa 946 is slated to come to the USA and Canada!
Vespa 946
The Vespa 946 is so distinctive it almost doesn't look like something one can ride. It looks like it belongs at the Museum of Modern Art or the Guggenheim. Rest assured this work of art is as functional as it is beautiful. In traditional Vespa fashion, the 946 maintains the steel monocoque frame and includes aluminum elements for weight reduction and style points. The handlebar, saddle support, side panels and front mudguard are all crafted from aluminum.
For maximum safety, the 946 comes with ABS and the ASR electronic traction control. Front and rear disc brakes assuredly stop large 12-inch wheels.
The Vespa 946 also respects the environment with a 125cc three valve, electronically injected engine. The North American version will most likely come with a 150cc three valve motor but this has not been confirmed as of yet. Fuel consumption and emissions are incredibly low in this state of the art scooter. To top it all off the 946 comes with an LED headlight and turn indicators. The full LCD dashboard completes the stylish, highly technological look.
Vespa 946 Details
Availability: Q1 2014
Pricing: TBD"

Speculation is over, short of the price.

Best,
SDG

Didnt know US homologation took that long, and will add to the pent-up demand for those wanting and able to afford one.

Maybe the reflectors will be aluminum too

Good to see some truly new product....now, about that 350.

The glamour shots on their FB page are gorgeous. Nice to hear that it will be coming to Canada. I cannot wait to see it in the flesh. Now we wait for the all important price.

This makes me soo hopeful for the GTR with ABS.

Vespa 946 1st quarter 2014 release (pre selling)

same release time in our country as i have posted in the closed thread....

what's next?

would not be surprised if the price is approximately the same.
+/-12k U.S. dollars.

It's a double whammy, gordy. First, they have to get it through homologation. If that results in any required tweaks, the tweaks have to be applied and approved. (Remember Stella 4T?)

Second, Piaggio must inform US DOT and EPA of scheduled US market production run dates, quantities and VINs. Must have homologation before they can do that. US market vehicles must be made in discrete production runs, separate from any other market. Then they have to load them in padded envelopes and mail them to dealers. (I made the last one up)

I'm not sure if Canadian market vehicles can piggy back on US market homologation and production runs. My guess is that they would make a US/Canada final product, and thus would have to satisfy your neighbor to the north as well before going into final production.

It ain't easy making "short run" vehicles for export to the North American market. Something has to be shut down to accommodate it, and once a run is complete, that's it until it is economically reasonable to make another (2005 PX150, anyone). Continuous production lines are a different animal totally, and much easier overall.

Seriously? When we thought the body was an all "i care not how you pronounce it", aluminum, lightweight marvel. That might have made sense. But now that it's most likely steel with aluminum accents that seems grossly overpriced.

Yup, pretty much.
Just like for car production, they don't mix and match different market vehicles in one production line.
They build a certain amount of cars or scooters for that specific market and then switch to another one.

Today she gets to sit on the 946. Looks so much happier.
Expensive looking leg cover and mutts.





Don't fancy the mirrors? Try the bar ends.




There must be some part missing on the center stand.
Apparently, the footrests don't fold.






At least one part of it is DOT approved.
large pic



Front shock peaks through the fender.






Very thin seat.

I'm a bit surprised that there is not an optional solo seat amongst those accessories. I'd also like to see someone riding one rather than a model posing on one.

I think the cowls are made out of plastic.

The advert from the Philippines referred to them as aluminum adhered to plastic, so it would appear to be a laminate.

That is odd though. What would be the advantage of laminating thin aluminum over the plastic and then painting the whole thing to match the body color? On current models such trim pieces are entirely plastic painted to match and are indistinguishable from the metal body.

It is also interesting that the best source for all this info is from the Philippines. Are they suddenly a great Vespa center? Where does PI get their Vespas from, Italy, Vietnam, India? Will this new model be made other than in Italy?

just sharing....


grossly overpriced????

you do the math!

Tor2ga

My guess is that they are using a laminate to get metal finish with the strength of the overall laminate. A lot would depend on the nature of the "plastic" foundation. Keep in mind that sometimes thing are not always expressed in American English or get lost in "translation". Italian to Filipino English, perhaps. Throw in a bit of Tagalog, and who knows.

The pictures of 946 are awesome but we haven't seen the real thing yet.
I remember I LOVED pictures of BMW C1 but my enthusiasm disappeared when I saw the actual scooter. I hope 946 won't disappoint me.

I love that helmet bag. Drool.The backside of the headset (aluminum/chrome) bit makes it look tacky IMHO. I like the mirrors tho. If that's the price it is pricey. I do sorta like it but the no storage is a deal breaker for me. Maybe a used one years from now if i'm still alive.

Well I've seen it and I like it a lot.

I was just going to ask if anyone had seen one live and up close. So do tell how does the genuine article compare to the photos?

It reminds me of my LX, or rather the Vespa S, much more than any old Vespa. It is quite long.
That seat is really broad. I think a pillion will sit very comfortably, although it must be a hard bench.
The turn indicators are tiny.
The chrome rim around the head shield looks like it is metal, but the chrome itself already had zits as if the rim was starting to corrode under the chrome.

The black one was too far away, but I had a good look at the yellow one. It's definitely no prototype, but maybe it's an early model. Some details look unfinished and other parts are probably hand-crafted for the show display.

Apologize for looking BACKWARDS yet again, but thought this would be of interest to some & I hadn't seen it here before.
What a CONTRAST in the seat - would you like COMFORT or STYLE?
Great review as well(sarcasm, OK?) This is from May, 2010.

Which do YOU prefer the look of? Not that it matters...



Interesting that both have a big 'round' thing visually prominent from the side

I've seen this picture before and, as I remember, they said it was photoshopped GTS.

Ah, that seems to answer my musings in my previous post about how the footpegs would be fitted to make pillion riding OK. Now I look at it, it doesn't look like they've really solved the GTS 'ankle whack' issue for riders and pillions

If I can afford I'm getting one.
I love the looks of it.
Ony concern is at that price (12,000 suspect) I could get the new Tmax all modified and stripped down and have a hooligan of a time.
We shall se what we shall see when the time comes.
Until then I am still pretty happy with the ET4 150.
Mega.

[quote="Jellied Eel"]Today she gets to sit on the 946. Looks so much happier.
Expensive looking leg cover and mutts.




She only looks happier b/c she noo longer has to stand in those heels. Still looks like she is counting minutes till break.

She looks angry cos her millonare *married* boyfriend said he wouldn't buy her new 946 and she'd have to make due with the GTS300 she got yesterday...

Anybody recognize the tread pattern on that front tire? I like the looks of it, but can't recall having seen it in a showroom before. Michelin, Pirelli, or something else?

One thing I'm not fond of is the rims.

Design is electric friendly.

Better


Source: http://vespaforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20401

They're Michelin City Grips.

One journalist I've known just came back from Milan. He told me that the body of 946 made of steel with aluminum panels except the floor which made of plastic. He also said that seating position was identical to GTV (it's his opinion). Approximate price for european version with 125cc (spring 2013) will be about 6000 euro while GTS 300 is 5200.
Therefore one can assume that 150 would cost few hundred euros more.
Now we can calculate possible US price: if EU price of 946 6400 EU and GTS 5200, and average dealer's price (before taxes) of GTS 300 is 6200, 946 couls be around $7600 like many of you predicted.

Might have to adopt a "wait and see" approach on this one, then. In the end, it will come down to fit and finish for me. If it looks like $7600 on wheels, I could see owning one. If the paint is orange-peeled, the plastic items (i.e., signal lenses, speedo, trim, etc.) are typical Piaggio and don't fit well, look like plastic, etc., I might have to pass.

946. i know vespa started in 46. how about the no. 9?

Maybe the month?