Modern Vespa

This year's EICMA (the world's largest motorcycle show) starts tomorrow (November 5th) in Milan, Italy.

The first announcements are starting to come in!

Among other things, the 3rd edition of the Vespa 946 in the style of the Chinese zodiac signs is being released for the 2025 model year.

After "Bunny" (2023) and "Dragon" (2024), 2025 is the "Year of the snake", so we are now being presented with the Vespa 946 "Snake".

For around two weeks, Vespa has been presenting the 2025 fashion collection "Vespa Snake Capsule" (https://www.vespa.com/en_EN/landing-page/vespa-snake-capsule/) in the Italian luxury department store "Rinascente" in Rome.

In the shop window there is a Vespa 946 in a light ice blue, which is presumed to be the 2025 Vespa 946 Snake (the color can best be recognized by the helmets in the photos of the fashion collection).
https://www.vespa.com/en_EN/vespa-world/events-vespa/winter-edit-world-premiere/

The first dealer has already listed the Vespa 946 Snake, albeit without technical details or a price.
https://www.fulland-vespa-store.de/motorroller/vespa-946-snake-limitiertes-sondermodell

Presumably the Vespa 946 will appear again as a 125/150cc version and the price is unlikely to be lower than the 2024 special model Vespa 946 Dragon (Germany: 12000€)...

Several Bunny and Dragon ones still for sale here and not selling at reduced though still silly money prices.

Unlike other 946 special editions (e.g. Dior), the models from the Chinese zodiac series are not so successful with collectors, but the worldwide interest seems to be there to push the limited edition (2023: 1000 / 2024: 1888 pieces) onto the market and at least keep prices stable.

Beejeezus that is a whole lót of ´collectables.

Year of the snake.

Is it ok if i down vote this?

What is this, Reddit?

If the Bieber can get a white Vespa, why not Jake?

Little Snakes?

Weird slogan in the light of the néxt model being ´snake´.

Must say though that the 946s hold value pretty well.

Was kind of thinking getting Snake as it's my "year", as I do love my 2013 model which I do ride--can't afford to be a collector per se, but really can't justify 3 scooters for use, either--2 is a luxury--and still like having the BV400 too! Anxious to see the real release--but light blue is not a color I think of when I hear "snake".....

My local Authorised Vespa store is planning on stocking the 2025 "Snake".

They currently have the following Special Editions in the inventory:
- 946 Christian Dior
- 150 Coca Cola Special Edition
- 150 i-GET Yacht Club Monaco Sport Edition
- 50 Disney 100th Anniversary Limited Edition
- 946 "Dragon"
- 946 "The Bunny"

What is this?

In the same city as che-storto
https://www.vespatorontowest.com/vespa-sprint-150-coca-cola.html

Note: this is the only link i found so might not be official Piaggio edition? ie a bodge of Bieber and (RED) parts

Nope, nothing official.
This is a Justin Bieber with a red seat and red rims from a Primavera RED. However, I'm not sure where the red trim around the leg shield comes from, maybe it's painted.

This is how you turn an unsaleable RED and a Justin Bieber into two red/white special models.

Awww man. How disappointed is that owner going to be when they find out their cool coke scoot is actually just an unwanted Bieber with red lipstick.

I don't understand why Biebers aren't zipping out the door....

The Vespa 946 Snake MY2025 is available for pre-order in Europe from today.

Limited edition of 888 units worldwide at an ERP of €12,000. For comparison: Bunny = 1000 units / Dragon 1888 units, ERP unchanged.

The color is called "Blue Glacial" and "shimmers in shades of ice".

The engine should meet the Euro 5+ emissions standard and have 125cc (up to and including the Dragon, the 946 was specified with 124cc, whether this is a typing error on the part of Piaggio, I don't know).

Source: https://www.fulland-vespa-store.de/motorroller/vespa-946-snake-limitiertes-sondermodell

I did a quick search for the Dragon specs and the German says 124cc but the English says 125cc (or 155cc).

classic piaggio. lol.

(124 sounds more believable for the Snake)


https://wlassets.vespa.com/wlassets/vespa/master/tech_spec/2024/Vespa946_Dragon_125_150_tec_spec_EN/original/Vespa946_Dragon_125_150_tec_spec_EN.pdf

https://wlassets.vespa.com/wlassets/vespa/de/tech_spec/2024/Vespa946_Dragon_125_tec_spec_DE/original/Vespa946_Dragon_125_tec_spec_DE.pdf

Curious production numbers--I know local dealers still have the Dragon in stock, so sales (or lack thereof) must have factored into the decision for fewer for the Snake...

Since the 946 launch, the 125cc has been the EU version, and 150cc for North American market (folks in US are not as forgiving for any type of 2 or 4 wheeler that can't exceed the speed limit at all times! ), so I hope they continue with that, and NA availability not yet announced?

In Asia, the "8" is considered a lucky number: the number 8 (八) is the most lucky number in Chinese culture. This is because it sounds similar to the very positive Chinese word fa (發), which means wealth, happiness and prosperity. I assume that this was the reason for the increase from 1000 Bunny to 1888 Dragon. Sluggish sales (at least in Europe and North America) may have been the reason for the reduction to 888.

For air-cooled smallframe engines, 125cc and/or 155cc are always available, depending on local legal requirements. The general statement "155cc for NA" is incorrect. In Italy, for example, both engine versions have been available for the smallframes (PV, Sprint, 946). The background to this is the Europe-wide limits for driving licenses up to 125cc (above 125cc a different driving license is required) and local laws that have banned motorcycles under 150cc on highways). In Germany, for example, the 155cc version is available on special order.

The funny thing is that the top speed of a 155cc Vespa is only 4km/h higher than the 125cc version (91 vs. 95km/h).

The Vespa 946 Snake will also be available with 155cc. I don't know if and when the Snake will be available in NA. At least one Canadian dealer has already listed it as available for pre-order.

I'd totally buy an 888cc Vespa.

Hmmmm, actually I already own an 88cc one.

Well, my reference to 125/150cc by market was specific to the 946, based on what I've read/seen about its development and releases... If the EU does have the option for the 150cc in the 946 too, that's great, I just never heard that.
(I know other models are available in multiple engine sizes--I've just not paid as much attention to them--yet).

And a good thing they aren't building a quantity of 444, since 4 has a very different meaning than 8 for the culture right? I do hope though that the reduction to 888 isn't an foreshadowing of further build reductions and a sad end to the 946 production...

Hideous like the Beiber Primavera. Comes with snakeskin shoes and other 'fashionable' clothes

https://scooterlab.uk/vespa-946-snake-news/