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The Vespa 946 can be booked online: a first for the world’s most famous and best-selling scooter

VESPA.COM: THE NEW VESPA WEB WORLD

PHOTO GALLERY



The new Vespa.com site is a reflection, in every facet of its form and content, of the Vespa soul. Like the design of this remarkable scooter, the look and feel of Vespa.com is the essence of elegant minimalism. Its content is cosmopolitan, attentive to different cultures and different trends, just like the iconic scooter, produced today in Italy, India and Vietnam and marketed in every continent. And as an international site, Vespa.com is a yardstick for style and elegance, capturing the interest and attention of an audience far wider than the traditional community of Vespa devotees.

Vespa(click to enlarge)


STARRING VESPA 946
Naturally, the new Vespa 946, the most luxurious and technologically advanced scooter ever, had to have a leading role on the new Vespa.com site. Exclusive photo galleries, videos and detailed information about the special production processes for the model, interviews with the designers who created it, the advertising campaigns and backstage snippets: every aspect of the Vespa 946 is revealed in the sections dedicated to this exclusive project and its first series, the 2013 Collection, produced in Black and White only, and named “Ricordo Italiano”. Production of the series will terminate at the end of the year – the Vespa 946 2014 Collection is already on the drawing board – to ensure that the Vespa 946 scooters sold during 2013 will be truly unique, unrepeatable products.

BOOKING ONLINE AND E-COMMERCE
For this reason too, and to offer everyone the opportunity to become one of the first fortunate owners of an iconic product, for the first time in the history of this extraordinary brand, the Vespa 946 can be booked online through the new Vespa.com site, even before it becomes available through the international dealer network. Vespa.com also provides a link to the e-commerce channel for the visitor to become an owner of a 2013 Collection 946.
Tools on Vespa.com include a configurator for buyers to customise their Vespa 946 from a broad array of elements and options, and make a unique vehicle even more exclusive. The Vespa 946 configurator is a sophisticated tool displaying a variety of views, including the viewpoint of the rider, for a full appreciation of the range of accessories and configurations selected for this highly sought after Vespa.

THE NEW MAGAZINE: PEOPLE, PLACES, ICONS
Events and dates in fashion, design and the arts will be the focus of the “Magazine” section of Vespa.com: a digital review, packed with stories, interviews, people, seeking out the leaders of social change and innovation, examining issues relating to current events in fashion, design week, sport or key highlights of the year. The “Magazine” section will welcome external contributions and showcase the best and most exciting cultural developments and the latest trends from the cutting edge of design, the visual arts, architecture and fashion.

ALL ABOUT THE RANGE
The Vespa devotee lives in a world without frontiers. A passion for the Vespa has united youngsters from all over the world and today is a red thread linking millions of people across the planet. So Vespa.com is a natural meeting place for Vespa fans from every nation. The entire range of Vespa lines is presented in the “The Choice” section, with full information and technical details about the various LX, S, GTS, PX, LXV and GTV models. With direct links to the national Vespa sites, every user, in any part of the world, will be able to access local commercial information (colours, engine displacements, prices, special offers) and find out about exhibitions, shows and brand presentations.

HERITAGE: THE CHARM OF HISTORY
The “Heritage” section of the new Vespa.com site provides a fascinating Vespa timeline, which will continue to be expanded with new stories, documents, personal accounts, interesting facts. Complete with photos and videos from the impressive Piaggio Historical Archive (one of the most comprehensive and important in Europe), many of which have never been published before, this section is destined to become a virtual Museum narrating the full, unabridged version of the extraordinary Vespa story. The models that have created the legend over more than seventy years, the great artists who have coupled their name and art with the Vespa, the international events and great expeditions with the Vespa as protagonist: the “Heritage” section is a mine of information for Vespa devotees, collectors and restorers, and a visual treasure trove for lovers of authentic Italian style.

DEDICATED NEWSLETTER
By subscribing, via the site, to the Vespa.com newsletter, visitors to the new Vespa web world will receive updates on new content and functions as they go on-line, as well as information about all the events showcasing the product range of this great Italian brand, beginning with the very latest arrival, the Vespa 946.
Vespa.com has been developed in responsive native HTML5 for full access from PCs, tablets and smartphones and guarantees complete integration with the social networks through easy sharing of all contents.

A GLOBAL BRAND

  • The first Vespa, 1946
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  • The new Vespa 946, 2013 collection
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The first truly global mobility brand, Vespa has united nations and generations, interacting with the most diverse social environments, fostering specific cultural phenomena in each particular reality in which it gradually became a key player and distinguishing feature. Vespa has been at the forefront of revolutions in social attitudes, music and among young people. It has accompanied entire countries and continents in their development. It has accelerated their progress in times of economic prosperity. And today it is one of the most popular and best-known Italian products on the planet.
More than 165,000 clients decided to buy a Vespa in 2012. The constant growth in worldwide sales for the Vespa brand – which have more than tripled since 2003, when global Vespa shipments were just under 50,000 – is the best confirmation of the attention the Piaggio Group devotes to the values of this brand: internationality, love of freedom, elegance, style and technological innovation. Since its birth in 1946, the Vespa has sold over 17 million vehicles worldwide.
product
The scooter taken to levels of excellence: a look at technical solutions and unique construction methods

The new Vespa 946 revealed in every details

A unique, highly evolved gem: everything about the Vespa 946, from its aesthetics to its technology, is state of the art. This is an extraordinary creation, developed with true passion by Piaggio Group engineers in record time: less than a year and a half from the presentation of the first mock-up at the International Eicma Show in Milan. The 946 is like no other Vespa, and like no other scooter in the world. For this model, and this model alone, Piaggio has designed and produced an array of innovations and sophisticated technological details without precedent.

What are the main technical characteristics of the 946?

"Larger dimensions (a wheelbase of 1405 mm) and 12" wheels front and rear. Like all Vespas, the 946 has the classic pressed and welded steel frame. In this case, however, access to the mechanical parts is via removable side panels (like the PX) and not from below the saddle. In addition, many components are now made from aluminium."

Is aluminium a key material on this model?

"Yes, we use more aluminium on the 946 than on other Vespas. As you might imagine, the saddle support plays an important structural role and the handlebar is made of cast aluminium, whereas the front mudguard and side panels are made from pressed aluminium (photo 1). The latter are internally reinforced with a thermoplastic material bonded to the aluminium."
Vespa 946Photo 1 (click to enlarge)

Isn't the rear suspension different too?

"Yes. A traditional suspension system with the shock absorber in an almost upright position behind the engine wasn't compatible with the space available and the clean lines we wanted. So we decided on a horizontally positioned monotube shock absorber, connected to the engine via a strut and mechanical return system. This also allowed us to change the characteristic curve of the suspension and make it more progressive (photo 2)."
Vespa 946Photo 2 (click to enlarge)

Other “exciting details”: handlebar, headlamp unit…

"The specially shaped handlebar is very narrow, and to produce it we had to manufacture special brake pumps with less prominent fluid reservoirs. The lower structural component and upper cover are made of cast aluminium. The powerful headlamp mounted on the handlebar has full LED technology and is fitted with a thermal dissipation system (photo 3).
Vespa 946Photo 3 (click to enlarge)
We dedicated a lot of time and attention to developing the lights. They are very advanced in both design and technology. Apart from the headlamp which I've already mentioned, the tail light and front and rear blinkers are also LEDs (photo 4).
Vespa 946Photo 4 (click to enlarge)
The cast aluminium saddle support is also highly innovative. You lift the saddle to get to the fuel tank cap (photo5).
Vespa 946Photo 5 (click to enlarge)
We even developed a new key to open the lock, a "desmodromic" retractable key. The look of the key fob resembles the side panels of the Vespa 946 (photo 6)."
Note: the term desmodromic comes from the Greek words "DESMOS" (bond) and "DROMOS" (track, path); in mechanics it is used for devices with a command used for movement in one direction and another command for movement in the opposite direction (closing or return).
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Vespa 946Photo 6 (click to enlarge)

What about quality control and testing?

"The Vespa 946 features a special system of controls designed to ensure that customer expectations for this exclusive product are not just met, but exceeded. We have put in place measures concerning the actual product and process, internal production operations and supply chain processes. Precise technical quality specifications were drawn up and agreed with suppliers to enable us to keep critical characteristics under very close control. We also defined and implemented a program to verify our suppliers' process capabilities based on these specifications. If necessary, the program was combined with a further time-based component QC plan. In addition, we use very specific machining systems for the saddle support and handlebar, to completely remove any potential visual and coupling defects (for example, the upper and lower sections of the handlebar are machined together). We also developed special packaging systems to ensure the complete integrity of components right up to the assembly stage. The paint shop has been modified to prevent entry of impurities before painting takes place (needless to say, this also applies to all the other products we make). The frames, mudguards and engine panels are all painted simultaneously, twice, to ensure a perfect colour match. As regards tests," explain the Piaggio engineers, "a functional (software-assisted) test is carried out at the test bench on all the scooters as they come off the production line, i.e., on every single Vespa 946. But that's not the end of it - quality control specialists also perform road tests on the aesthetic and functional aspects of all the scooters." In other words, the "precious" new Vespa is lovingly treated from the design to the manufacturing stage. 100% commitment, for 100% results: today, excellence in a scooter is called 946.
Vespa 946The Piaggio Group Scooter Technology Centre Team (click to enlarge)

PHOTO GALLERY

product
Introducing a new, younger and lighter “smart” version. And in India, the Apé City Passenger continues to enjoy great success

THE APE CALESSINO 200 BRINGS BACK THE LEGENDARY AND MOST GLAMOROUS THREE-WHEELER IN THE WORLD

A new but classic appearance and a new engine for the new Ape Calessino 200, the glamour version of the most commonly seen three-wheeled vehicle in the world used for transporting people. The new Ape Calessino, now younger and lighter brings, back memories of the Dolce Vita, when the international jet-set discovered magnificent corners of the Mediterranean and the Italian islands of Ischia and Capri. Now history is repeating itself, without losing any of the charm or exclusive style, which make it stand out from others. Ape is a veritable legend that never ceases to surprise.
The Ape Calessino 200 has been designed to comfortably carry two passengers and a driver. This highly original vehicle stands well clear of all others thanks to its individual personality. Over 2 million of them scattered around the globe bear witness to the success of a vehicle that has made versatility its best asset. Originally designed for small businesses, and perfect for transporting goods through even the narrowest streets, the Ape has always stood out as an alternative means of transport, with an additional snob factor.
Faithful to this vocation of moving people and to a tradition of functionality and style, Ape widens its range with the latest Ape Calessino 200. A tribute to the history of a unique vehicle and an exclusive proposition for getting around in the most chic of settings. The Ape Calessino is a life style icon, a priceless symbol of elegant minimalism, which disdains the mad rush and repays us with greater awareness of places, people and friendships. The Ape Calessino 200, in its “smart” version, is a light and nimble Ape for passengers. It is ideal for transporting people in city centres, in tourist locations, and for courtesy services of hotels, resorts, accommodation centres and hostels, as well as for special events.
The latest member of the Ape family features a 200cc Piaggio 4-stroke petrol engine and comfortably accommodates two passengers and the driver, as well as having ample room for luggage. It boasts a new look and a new range of colours: Western Red, Artic White and Charming Blue for the body; these colours perfectly match the elegant beige of the new seats and the new canopy.
The new Ape, designed for the European market, is more accessible and can meet the needs of a wider range of customers, offering them a new concept in transport.
While the new Calessino 200 is aimed at Europe, thousands of miles away in Asia, another Ape continues to be the vehicle which best meets daily transport needs. It is the Apé City Passenger, the vehicle made by Piaggio for the Indian market. Quite possibly no other means of transport has ever become an integral part of the culture and history of a country to the same extent as the Ape in India. It has become a symbol of this great Asian nation, fitting in perfectly with the changing times in one of the countries with the greatest potential for economic and social development.
The Apé City Passenger, presented to the public and international press at a preview at the Delhi Auto Show, was created to respond to the different and constantly growing needs of urban transport in this country. The Apé City Passenger is manufactured at the Indian factory of the Piaggio Group at Baramati and, apart from its proverbial robustness, is now larger and boasts great versatility, practicality and ease of use. This makes it ideal for getting around areas with very dense traffic. The Apé City Passenger is also fitted with a new engine: a single cylinder 200cc four-stroke developed by Piaggio and available in different versions that run on Petrol, CNG or LPG, providing reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions.

APE CALESSINO

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Snippet
in India the Ape range is spelled with an e acute i.e. Apé. The reason for this is that the word “ape” (meaning the member of the monkey family) would not go down very well with Asian consumers, who see "apes" as not overly agreeable animals.

APÉ CITY PASSENGER

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inside
Exclusive: a journey inside the factory to discover the innovative production line dedicated to the new scooter

WHERE THE VESPA 946 BORNS

Everything about the new Vespa 946 is exclusive and special: from the design to the engineering and manufacturing process. And to show sales managers how and where the new model was born, Carlo Coppola (Director of Manufacturing Technologies and EMEA Plants) organised a company meeting in April, with "the aim of disclosing the details of this exceptional product and all the innovations brought into the technological processes to produce it. The new Vespa 946 is an unprecedented and unrivalled vehicle, both in terms of its specific characteristics, as well as with regard to the production process that has been specially implemented,” explained Coppola. The editorial staff of Wide was there, and here reveals where the 946 was born.

  • VESPA 946 ASSEMBLY LINE (click to enlarge)
  • PHOTO 1 – CRANKCASE PROCESSING (click to enlarge)
  • PHOTO 2 – FRAME PRESSING (click to enlarge)
  • PHOTO 3 – PAINTING PROCESS (click to enlarge)
  • PHOTO 4 – ASSEMBLY LINE (click to enlarge)
  • PHOTO 5 – AGV LINE (click to enlarge)
  • PHOTO 6 – ASSEMBLY LINE (click to enlarge)
The crankcase processing, engine assembly, frame welding, frame painting and vehicle assembly lines: these are the areas of the Piaggio factory in Pontedera (Pisa), in Tuscany, where the new Vespa is produced. Here, specially for the 946, numerous and challenging industrialisation activities have been implemented, both for the engine as well as for the vehicle, which translate into a high quality standard. Some examples: new machinery for crankcase processing (photo 1) and engine assembly (new production plant with traceability systems installed). And also: specific frame pressing and welding processes (photo 2); dedicated painting process for the frame and aluminium components with simultaneous painting (double cycle) of the frame, mudguard and panels, to ensure perfect colour homogeneity (photo 3).


The “Assembly Project” of the Vespa 946, explains Daniele Landini (Head of Production Technologies and Infrastructures & Facilities), was implemented according to the driver of technological innovation: work tools, management of assembly sequences, production layout, equipment, methods, personnel, materials - everything was defined ad hoc. Starting with the innovative AGV (automatic guided vehicle) assembly line, decorated in white and blue (the colours of the institutional Piaggio brand) and customised with the Vespa 946 logo. With ergonomic workstations, customised clothing of workers (selected and trained), specific lighting, equipment, test area, kit trolleys alongside the production line, work flows, quality control at each production station: everything is excellent in every detail.
A “historical” note: the 946 was officially born on 8th April 2013, when the first vehicle ready for the market left the production line. And it must be remembered that in April of 67 years ago the extraordinary Vespa adventure began: on the 23rd the patent of what was to become the world's most famous scooter was filed.

The first journey: protected like a jewel
Alessandro Zazzeri (Head of Production/EMEA Plants Direction) illustrated the new specific packaging for the shipment of every Vespa 946 (with anti-scratch protective layer on the frame and mudguard and a double protection envelope), which includes the accessory kit, with manual and mirrors, inserted and screwed in a specific space in the "trolleyable" pallet with ramp, to facilitate loading and unloading operations. There is even a specific procedure for both packaging in the plant as well as unpacking by the dealer.
Protecting the “precious” Vespa 946 during its first journey from the factory to the dealer is an imperative.

  • Vespa 946 - Packaging

PHOTO GALLERY

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Adv

Vespa 946 & Fashion: sharing the language of beauty

A mid-April morning in Milan, at the Superstudio in Via Tortona, a major photography studio in one of the city’s key fashion and design districts. The star getting ready for the spotlight is the Vespa 946.
Or, more simply, “the 946”, as the scooter has already come to be affectionately known among the professionals, who, in the case of the smartest, most unworldly and intriguing Vespa ever to appear, tend increasingly to work in the world of style and fashion.

Ever since the first clandestine photos taken at last autumn’s motor shows, the Vespa 946 has been an object of desire for the world of luxury and glamour, immediately establishing itself as a cult object. And today, as it prepares for the lens of a top photographer for the campaign that will launch it around the world, it is proving to be perfectly at home in the world of fashion. A shared language of elegance and style ensure the smooth debut of the Vespa 946 on stages normally reserved for famous models.
This is the firmly held belief of Pasquale Abbattista – a highly regarded fashion photographer accustomed to working with luxury brands and seeing his photos published in the glossy pages of the world’s leading fashion magazines, from Elle and Cosmopolitan to Glamour and GQ – the author of the images for the advertising launch of the rarest Vespa ever seen.
“It isn’t often easy to establish a smooth connection between a hi-tech product like a car or a motorbike and a model. But in this case it happened almost naturally: the beauty of the Vespa interacted effortlessly with both the sophisticated urban allure of model Louise De Chevigny, and the styles of the two lads, the British look of Roch Barbot and the sporty style of Olivier Altman.” “The line of the Vespa 946 has such a strong personality,” adds Abbattista, “and its projected saddle is so unique, that I had to concentrate on the light front fairing and the profile by shooting from this angle. The intention was above all to celebrate the remarkable design of the 946.”
The photographer doesn’t hide his admiration for this steel and aluminium model: “I fell in love with it at first sight, during pre-production: I think it’s an exciting new chapter in the saga of the Vespa. And in fact I’m thinking about buying one.”
Abbattista is also clear about the public addressed by the Vespa 946: “Certainly someone with an original approach to city life, like a great architect or a talented international actor. Someone who has nothing to prove, an elegant intellectual who doesn’t have to show off his muscles. People with a desire for something unique. I think the Vespa 946 already meets this need. That’s where it will make its mark: through its uniqueness.”
So, among the crew in the studio, attention was not just on the three models in the campaign, but also on the Vespa 946 making its debut in one of the world’s most fascinating but also most selective environments: this is a scooter that has already learned to pose as a star.
People
A great international initiative for charity. Vespa is a partner of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Vietnam, at the Hanoi National Hospital for Paediatrics

VESPA FOR CHILDREN

“We believe that we have a responsibility to contribute to the quality of life in the communities where we work," said Piaggio Group Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno during the shareholder's meeting held on 15 April in Milan, to announce the launch of the Vespa charity.

Vespa for Children - Interview with Roberto Colaninno
Vespa for Children - Interview with Lorenzo Borghese
Vespa for Children - Interview with Giuseppe Profiti
This new area of social activities will involve the renowned Vespa brand in the initiatives of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital which, as part of its international commitment, has involved forty different countries for about twenty years in an assistance programme known as “a hospital spanning five continents”.
The first initiative was launched in Hanoi last 24 April by Roberto Colaninno and Giuseppe Profiti, President of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital. Its aim is to increase the amount of health provision for child patients in the Vietnamese hospital suffering from complex urological diseases.

The medical programme stems from the collaboration between the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital and the Piaggio Group through the subsidiary Piaggio Vietnam, and aims to significantly improve the quality of life and life expectancy of many Vietnamese babies and children. The objectives have been set high in terms of both quality and quantity. First and foremost will come clinical aid and assistance, which will allow 2,000 very young patients aged from 0 to 18 years to receive specialist urological support and receive reconstructive urological surgery, dialysis and treatment for chronic paediatric kidney disease which eventually requires kidney transplants.
The National Hospital for Paediatrics in Hanoi (NHP) is the biggest children's hospital in Vietnam and leads the development of healthcare for children throughout the country. The collaboration between the NHP and the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (OPBG) has been in place for over five years, enabling technical and scientific experience in different fields of medicine, such as cardiology and urology, to be shared. There have been more than 20 missions of Rome-based specialists to Hanoi, as well as provision of updating courses for local medical staff. As part of this collaboration, a number of children suffering from severe heart disease have been transferred to the OPBG main hospital in Rome for operations and then sent home safe and sound to their parents in Vietnam.
“This initiative is a typically Italian way of doing business in the world, never losing sight of the needs of the societies in which we operate, as well as making a contribution to improving quality of life,” said Giuseppe Profiti, President of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital during the presentation of the “Vespa for Children” project to the press and Vietnamese authorities. The Bambino Gesù experience is a success story reflecting the excellence of Italian medicine, which in three years has made the Hanoi hospital one of the most advanced hospitals in South East Asia in the field of cardiology. Now, thanks to the collaboration with the Piaggio Group, one of the largest Italian manufacturers present in Vietnam, the aim is to raise social awareness in a territory where the Group operates on a large scale.
Speaking at the presentation to a large gathering of Vietnamese authorities, Roberto Colaninno, Chairman and CEO of the Piaggio Group, said: “I am very proud to be present at the launch of this new project between the National Hospital for Paediatrics of Hanoi and the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome, an initiative to which Piaggio Vietnam has contributed. The Piaggio Group has set up production facilities and marketing operations in many regions of the world and today is a well-established player here in Vietnam. We have set up the “Vespa for Children” project, as a way to support the younger generations who are the future and the hope of the world. All over the planet, Vespa stands for quality of life, for reasons over and beyond the scooter’s style or the new fuel-efficient low-emission engines we have developed. As I often say, people riding a Vespa through the city have a smile on their faces. Through the initiative being launched today, I hope the Vespa can give many children and their families a new reason to smile”.
As well as helping Vietnamese children, the Vespa for Children project also has longer-term aims, with a training course for medical staff at the Hanoi National Hospital for Paediatrics. The program will provide specific theoretical/practical training in urology and kidney transplant techniques from live donors.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Inside
The plant celebrated the production of 300,000th scooter and 50,000th engine. An important stage in the development of the Group in the Asian country

HANOI: DOUBLE GOAL IN PIAGGIO VIETNAM

Hanoi, 16th May, 2013 – Piaggio Vietnam celebrated the 300.000th scooter and the 50,000th engine coming out the production line at Vietnam industrial complex in Vinh Phuc, marking a significant milestone to the development of Piaggio in Vietnam. The vehicle manufacturing plant began production in June 2009; now successfully produce a wide range: Vespa scooters, Liberty high-wheel scooters, Fly innovative compact scooters and Zip entry scooter. In addition to winning a leading role in the premium sector of the Vietnamese market, Piaggio Vietnam has enabled the Group to move into very important new markets in South East Asia, notably Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia.
The 2012-launched engine production plant stands next to the vehicle assembly plant, which produces engines for Vespa, Liberty and Fly scooters. The Piaggio Vietnam industrial complex in Vinh Phuc also houses an R&D Centre for the two-wheeler sector – the first R&D unit set up by the Piaggio Group in Asia – which operates synergistically with the Group headquarter in Pontedera (Italy), focusing on the vehicle and engine ranges produced for the Asian and Pacific markets.
The today celebration proves the significant grow-up of skills, competency and leadership of local people at Piaggio Vietnam (nearly 900 employees). Within four years, they have indeed reached the highest standards of quality and efficiency, paving the way to the new phase of Company’s development.

PHOTO GALLERY

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people

SEEN ON THE VESPA: CELEBRITIES PARADE

The stars have always loved the Vespa. The firmament of world-famous actors and pop stars immortalised on the famous scooter keeps on growing. Lady Gaga, for example, chooses her Vespa to match her colour scheme, as part of her concert stage set. Madonna was seen in Florence wearing ripped jeans, a leather jacket and a helmet on the back of a Vespa ridden by her boyfriend (a dancer in the cast of her latest world tour).
The members of the Black Eyed Peas and countless actors and actress such as Hugh Grant, James Belushi, Anne Hathaway, Emma Watson and Julia Roberts have all chosen Vespa scooters to get around town, or have used them in photo shoots. And new VIPs are following suit, such as Kim Kardashian (an American TV personality nominated by the media as a rival to Paris Hilton), who was recently seen in a Los Angeles Vespa store choosing her new scooter.
The list of VIPs on Vespas is endless, and not without a few oddities like the Simpsons and Superman. And then there’s a “vintage” photograph: Michael Schumacher on a Vespa featuring the Ferrari colours in the Formula 1 paddock, when he was driving to victory for the Maranello team.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Miss Italy at the Piaggio Museum

As part of several initiatives organised by the town council of Pontedera (Pisa) to raise funds for the AVIPP (Association of Volunteers for Paediatric Care, Pontedera), Miss Italy, Giusy Buscemi, visited the Piaggio Museum on Saturday 20 April 2013.
Received by the President of the Piaggio Foundation, Riccardo Costagliola, and by the Vespa Club of Pontedera, Giusy, a veritable Vespa enthusiast, visited the Vespa, Ape and Gilera historical collections.
Giusy (a 19 year old Sicilian from Mazara del Vallo) was more than happy to be photographed wearing her Miss Italy crown and sash alongside some of the most significant historic models of the world's most famous scooter. Charming, smiling, elegant and perhaps even a little shy, Giusy happily posed for snaps with many other visitors to the Museum and with fans from the local Vespa club.

PHOTO GALLERY

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ON The Road
Veteran travellers Mario and Sandra spent 4 months in the saddle and covered 20 thousand kilometres from Chile to Tierra del Fuego. This is the story of their adventure

TWO ON A VESPA ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA

“Sometimes a dream is like a partner who is there beside you through thick and thin. As time passes, just the knowledge that it exists is enough for you, until one day, something happens that sparks off an intense desire to change that dream into reality.
Then, as if by magic, all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, and for the first time, you are confronted with the actual difficulties you'll have to face, difficulties you know you can handle, which have you repeating the line from the famous Mel Brooks film: “It… could…. work!!”
The rest is history. We’ve ridden across dozens of countries from Norway to the Ukraine and on to the Crimea. In Asia, we travelled across Indonesia and all of South East Asia, from Ceylon to Borneo, and from Vietnam to Burma. Then we decided to cross South America, a four-month trip through Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, down legendary roads like the Ruta 3, the Ruta 40, the “7” Carretera Austral and the “5” PanAmericana for a total of about 20,000 km”.

PHOTO GALLERY

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The adventure begins: making preparations
“So our adventure began – there was Sandra, my partner, me and our Vespa. It took us a year to organise the journey. Considering the vast size of the area we would be travelling through, and the differences in geography and latitudes (and therefore in the weather), we had some trouble working out what clothes and equipment to bring. Perhaps even more important was choosing the right time of year. It turned out that the best time to travel was between November and February when the weather would be in our favour, especially if we set off from Chile and followed a somewhat convoluted clockwise direction.
Sending the Vespa ahead turned out to be more difficult than expected. We had it serviced, then packed it into a special steel and OSB crate we made ourselves that complied with all the current legislation. Sandra looked after the shipping to San Antonio, a port about 100 km from Santiago.
We created a blog for the journey where all our friends could follow our adventure, especially our friends from the Vespa Club Trieste e Gatti Randagi). On the day of our departure, they asked us: “Are you sure you know what you're doing?”
Incidentally, I'd like to state that it would be impossible to mention all the people we met and made friends with, because there are so many of them, and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out”.

From Santiago to Argentina
“I'll never forget the emotion I felt when I started the Vespa in Santiago, after being separated for nearly two and a half months. The next step was to load our luggage and set off (laden like mules) for the Argentine border. It was like being under a spell, as the quiet study hum of the engine washed away all our doubts. We climbed to 3,500 metres, through the Paso de los Libertadores, then under the shadow of the Aconcagua and on down to Uspallata, Mendoza and San Juan, where the members of the local Vespa Club were waiting for us.
Then we travelled up the Valle de Lerma as far as San Salvador de Jujuy, and from there took the Quebrada de Humahuaca to Purmamarca. After this we began the climb to a pass at 4,200 metres, which took us to Salinas Grandes.
Down on the other side of the valley, we started heading North again towards the Bolivian border, which we skirted before taking the most incredible road in Argentina, Route 81. It goes in a practically straight line for over 850 km and crosses the Chaco region bordering Paraguay. We did it in two days under a blistering sun, with the temperature hovering around 50°C and sometimes more. Another problem in this area was refuelling, and the first petrol station we found was only after 350 km!
That section taught us to keep a good reserve supply, even when it didn't seem necessary”.

From Paraguay to Brazil
“We arrived in Asunciòn, the capital of Paraguay, accompanied by Diego and members of the Paraguay Vespa Club who were waiting for us at the border. Thanks to them, we were able to truly experience this magnificent city, which lies near Lake Ypacarai, considered the most romantic spot in the country and the inspiration for countless poets and musicians. Here we had the pleasant surprise of being interviewed by the local press and TV station, which broadcast a special program about us.
Leaving Asunciòn we crossed Paraguay and entered Brazil, then back into Argentina where we took a break at Puerto Iguazù to visit the park and its famous waterfalls. From there, we headed down to the state of Missiones, where we visited the ruins of a Jesuit mission built in the 17th century in the style known as Guarini Baroque.
The weeks flew by, and we met some really fabulous people. We came across many bikers, especially Brazilians, who all wanted to talk to us and have a close look at this “great little machine” that was taking the same road as them. We made a detour to the town of Rosario where we found a crowd of Vespa enthusiasts all wanting to meet us. Together, we took the road that runs along the banks of the majestic Rio Paranà and arrived in the town centre with its huge obelisk, the monument to the Argentine flag raised for the first time by General Manuel Belgrano.
We said our goodbyes to our friends from Rosario and set off on the Vespa for Fray Bentos and the Uruguayan border. By mid-December we were in Montevideo and spent a few days visiting the city and the local markets that spring up everywhere on feast days. After a short stop at Colonia del Sacramento, we took the ferry back to Buenos Aires in Argentina”.

Meeting Vespa friends
“Thanks to the kindness of other Vespa enthusiasts from the Buenos Aires Vespa Club, we got to know this vast city better. The stories our friends told us were interwoven with what we could see: it was an intoxicating mixture, the history of the Café Tortoni and the Biela, the tango dancers in La Boca, Puerto Madero, the VIP district of the city with its statue of Manuel Fangio, who they told us was the authorised Vespa importer in the 1950s, showing us original documents bearing his signature.
Leaving Buenos Aires we headed for La Plata where our friend Ariel was waiting for us and invited us to spend Christmas with him and his family and other members of the local Vespa Club.
When we set off again, we followed the coast and after Mar del Plata and Bahia Blanca, we came to the city of Viedma, the Gateway to Patagonia, where we saw in the New Year.
We began 2013 by taking the Ruta 3 to Puerto Piramides on the Peninsula de Valdes. Even if it's tiny, young Argentines love spending the first week of the year in this little seaside resort.
On our arrival we knew instantly that we had no hope of finding a bed for the night in either a hotel or a hostel, and even less chance of finding a place to pitch the tent! The nearest town that we knew of was Puerto Madryn, about 100 km away, so we decided to ask the local fire brigade if they had any suggestions. They let us pitch our tent inside their garage. We jumped at the chance! From this unusual base camp we went seal and whale watching and covered our first 200 km of dirt roads, using them as a bit of practice for what we would soon be facing. We still had 2,500 km to cover between Puerto Piramides and Tierra del Fuego on the Ruta 3, with strong cross winds and long straights, often accompanied by the ever-present guanacos that more than once ran out in front of us”.

Tierra del Fuego
“By mid-January we were in Tierra del Fuego and took a ferry across the Straits of Magellan to the Isola Grande and then on to Ushuaia, the “town at the end of the world” on the banks of the Beagle Channel.
We had covered more than 13,000 km and were at the southernmost point of our journey. Now it was time to start backtracking. A couple of kilometres from the town we found Lapataia Park, with three important sights. One was the Train at the end of the world, a steam train used by prisoners serving life sentences to take the wood they had collected for cooking, heating and construction to the town, because at that time Ushuaia was a maximum security prison for dangerous criminals. Continuing through the park we came across the signpost that marks the end of the Ruta 3 after 3,079 km, and further along is the Isola Redonda, home to the southernmost post office in Argentina. Here Mr Ignacio, the postmaster, will happily put one of his beautiful stamps on any piece of paper or postcard you present him with. Last but not least, we crossed the Beagle Channel by boat, among colonies of elephant seals, sea lions and penguins”.

The Magellan region
Leaving Ushuaia we rode to Punta Arenas in Chile's 12th Region, known as the Magellan Region, often along long stretches of “ripio feo”, dirt roads with gravel and potholes. Here, the Vespa's small wheels caused us several very tricky moments.
After visiting Puerto Natales and the Torri del Paine Park, we entered Argentina again on the Ruta 40. This brought us to Lake Argentino and the town of El Calafate, whose glaciers make it one of the most spectacular places on the planet.
We headed back North again on the Ruta 40, which was then being resurfaced. While the first section was covered in asphalt, it wasn't long before we were back on a dirt surface with loads of gravel and terrible ruts (here known as calaminas or serrucio) left by passing lorries. They were so bad it seemed parts were flying off the Vespa along the way.
Here too, we had to be careful because of the lack of petrol stations, but the stunning scenery around us more than rewarded us. We crossed Lake Buenos Aires to re-enter Chile, this time tackling the Carretera Austral, or Ruta “7”, built by General Augusto Pinochet to forge a land link with this part of the country. Up to this point we had been lucky with the weather, but here we ran into a rainstorm that created problems for us. To get to Chaiten and catch the ferry for the island of Chiloè, we had to travel 400 km through woods, over potholes, on gravel and worse. We certainly didn't break any speed records, and when we touched 20 km/h it was like flying. It took us two days to get to our destination. From Chaiten, the ferry took half a day to get to Castro, the capital of the island of Chiloè, a town famous for its gaudily painted stilt houses and for its wooden churches, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
We spent a few days on the island, and then headed off again towards Pueto Montt where we decided to go back into Argentina to visit San Carlos de Bariloche, the famous ski resort. Back in Chile, in Osorno, we continued our journey along the Ruta 5 (the PanAmericana) to Santiago.
We still had a few days in hand before starting home so, after a short break, we decided to head for Valparaiso and then La Serena. We also went to Bahia Inglesa, a famous seaside resort that lies about 1,000 km north of the capital. By early March we were back in Santiago, where we prepared the Vespa and the crate, which we sent to Valparaiso for shipping back to Italy.
In a trip lasting almost four months, we covered 20,400 km (1,100 on dirt roads), we saw countless fabulous places and met hundreds of wonderful people with whom we are still in touch. And all of this was possible thanks to the Vespa: a true means of communication in the widest sense of the word”.
Facts and figures
Vehicle:
A Vespa PX 150 from 2000, with a 177cc engine

Participants:
Mario Pecorari and Sandra Carozzi

Total road-ready weight:
Vespa + 2 persons + luggage = 330 kg

Distance covered:
20,400 km, 1,100 of which on gravel dirt roads (Ripio)

Countries crossed:
Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil (short section), Uruguay

Consumption:
713 litres of petrol; 14 litres of oil for fuel mix; replaced 3 tyres (2 rear, 1 front); average fuel consumption 28.6 km/litre (80.78 mpg)

Maximum altitude:
Passo Tres Morros at 4,170 metres above sea level

Furthest point North:
San Ramon de la Nueva Oran (Argentina)

Furthest point South:
Ushuaia – Lapataia at the end of the National Route (Argentina)

Unforeseen technical problems:
After 4,000 km a problem with the ignition pick-up, resolved by fitting the spare stator. After 10,000 km, the rear shock absorber failed and we replaced it with the spare we were carrying
VINTAGE
Celebrating the smallest Vespa. For fifty years a legend and a symbol of freedom for the young generation

50 YEARS OF THE VESPA 50

In 1963, Italy and Europe were enjoying the economic boom that had started in the period of post-war reconstruction. The Vespa was at the peak of its success, with over two million scooters on the world’s roads less than twenty years after its launch.
But the world was changing rapidly. Economic prosperity, the baby boom and rapid cultural upheavals led to the emergence of a new social class – young people. A new generation that within a few years would no longer accept the "rules" that had been in place since the nineteenth century, and would instead demand independence and complete freedom.

Vespa, once again, was ahead of its time, responding to a need that was still struggling to emerge.
This was the genesis of the Vespa 50. The smallest engine on the most famous scooter offered teenagers the freedom and independence that only mobility can provide. Weighing less than 70 kg, the Vespa 50 was easy to handle and ride, and featured a completely new frame, smaller than the frame of the 125 and 150cc in production at that time. The Vespa 50 became known as the “Vespino”, and drew a line that still exists today between the small-frame scooters (subsequently available in 50, 125 and 150cc engine displacements) and those with the larger frame starting from the 125 and continuing to the recent Vespa GTS/GTV 300, passing some real milestones along the way such as the GTR, the Rally and the PX.

PHOTO GALLERY

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From a technical point of view, the Vespa 50 was a completely new design, and was the last project by the original Vespa designer, Corradino D’Ascanio. The engine was a two-stroke, single cylinder, 1.5 hp unit that ran on a 2% oil/petrol mix. It had a three-speed gearbox and the engine sat at an angle of 45° instead of the traditional horizontal position. The 9" wheels were colour coded to match the bodywork and the standard single-seat saddle could be exchanged for a longer one.
The first series featured a smaller engine hatch than that fitted to later models. That same feature still identifies the “first series" Vespino, one of the most sought-after models the world over.
The Vespa 50 was such a success that production continued right through the 1960s with the introduction of more refined models such as the “N” series (new headlamp), the “L” (with a new shock absorber) and the “R” (the last series with a round headlamp).
The real technical and stylistic revolution of the Vespino came in 1969 with the launch of the Special, the "indestructible Vespa” – one of the best-loved and most famous models, destined to become a symbol of the 1970s and 1980s. Manufactured until 1982, the Special was the first Vespa 50 to come with 10" wheels (in 1972) and a four-speed gearbox (in the 1975 third series).
With the “Elestart” version in 1969, the 50 Special was the first Vespa to have an electric starter.
The story of the Vespa 50 didn’t end with the Special, however. The new versions and the PK and HP series from the 1980s and 1990s paved the way for the Vespa ET2 50, launched in 1996. In 2000 this model adopted the first 4-stroke 50cc engine fitted to a Vespa. Nowadays, the 50 comes with either 2- or 4-stroke engines in the shape of the Vespa LX and the Vespa S, two highly successfully and stylish models that proudly carry forward the tradition of the Vespa 50, a true legend in scooter history.

VESPA VINTAGE 2013

An exclusive line of original accessories and rare spare parts for Vespa fans and collectors

As everyone knows, the Vespa is much more than a scooter: it’s a cult object, a collector’s item, a two-wheeler that has been cared for and preserved well beyond the average life of any other vehicle. For all the devoted owners of a vintage Vespa, Piaggio dedicates “Vespa Vintage”, an exclusive line of spare parts and accessories that perfectly match the originals, because they were produced from the drawings in the company’s Historic Archives, in cooperation with the Vespa Historic Register, the Vespa Club of Italy and the International Federation of Vespa Clubs.
The new 2013 edition of the “Vespa Vintage” catalogue (available from dealers) offers a full selection of spare parts and accessories: engine parts, shock absorbers, brakes, metal frame components, badges, stickers, labels, rubber frame elements, mileage counters, saddles, electrical parts, windscreens, wheels and even complete sidecars. All the items are made with high-quality materials to conform with the originals.
The 2013 Vintage catalogue is a real treasure trove for Vespa enthusiasts: thanks to its original spares and accessories, their cherished vintage Vespa scooters will be as good as new.
Community
A mixture of fun and sport - three races in Europe, transforming scooter enthusiasts into racers for a weekend

VESPA RALLY 2013 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
STAGES IN ITALY, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

For the past six years, the Vespa World Club, a worthy heir of legendary past races like the “Tre Mari” and the “Mille Miglia Vespistica”, has been promoting an event that mixes fun and competition, the Vespa Rally European Championship. The 2013 event started off in great style on the 13th and 14th of April, with the first Italian stage held in the province of Imperia in Liguria, on the roads used in the famous Sanremo Rally.
The paddock was based in the multifunction centre of the "Comune di Camporosso la Bigaudia" and saw competitors arrive from early on the Saturday morning to have their Vespas scrutinised. They then retired to the parc fermè to study the timed sections and road-books.
In the briefing, the secretary of the Vespa World Club, Marco Manzoli, introduced the rule changes for 2013, involving the Michelin Cup and the Pinasco Trophy, aimed at making the race formula more entertaining and at improving competitors' chances of taking home important prizes. To make the special tests even more exciting, they were organised with two competitors at a time racing in parallel on adjoining tracks - a fun solution that the riders also thoroughly enjoyed. The two days of racing saw 37 Vespa enthusiasts cross the line (from 42 that started) after nearly 200 km of twisty roads and 4 timed sections. At the finishing line, the European Championship holder, Alessandro Bisti from the Viterbo Vespa Club, beat Claudio Federici of the Mantua Vespa Club by just 1.1 seconds. Third place on the podium was taken by Federico Barucco, from the highly competitive Pinerolo Vespa Club. The first non Italian rider, Joan Morini from Roquebrune Cap Martin, finished 14th just 11 seconds behind the leader, while it was a black week-end for the Austrian team, with Wolfang Vrost of the Vienna Vespa Club coming home in 28th place with a 24 second gap.
After lunch on Sunday with all the riders, the Mayor of Camporosso, Tiziana Civardi, awarded the prizes and was thanked by officials from the Vespa World Club for the hospitality provided. Special thanks also went to the Riviera dei Fiori Vespa Club, which, following a great sports tradition, organised a very entertaining two-day event for Vespa enthusiasts, proved beyond a shadow of doubt by the smiles and obvious satisfaction of all the riders during the award ceremony.
The second round of the Vespa Rally European Championship will take place on the 27th and 28th of July at Straubing (the first time in Germany) and the last round, the Austrian Vespa Rally, will be held on the 14th and 15th September in the Styrian Volcano Land.
Info: www.vesparally.eu - www.vespaworldclub.com
Community

Vespa Meetings. Such passion!

Lucky Vespa owners can now travel the world in the certainty of finding a warm welcome in Vespa Clubs. Lots of new friends happy to show you the best their countries have to offer: sights, monuments, culture, traditions and cuisine. This is a great way to travel: intelligent and fun. For a week-end or a holiday always aboard your beloved Vespa.
But where do you start? To get your bearings, see the official websites: www.vespaworldclub.com (where you'll find a list of international clubs and links to the scheduled meetings) and www.vespacluditalia.it (with lists of official Italian clubs and calendars of tourist and sports events).
You really are spoiled for choice: tour Belgrade-Pontedera (the city where borns Vespa, in Tuscany), and many meetings throughout Italy, Europe and Overseas, such as in Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Norway and even the United States for the Amerivespa, 2013, in San Diego, California.
A real Vespa fan, however, would never miss the best of the “gatherings” – the Vespa World Days, where Vespa enthusiasts from all over the world meet up. This year the host towns are Limburg and Hasselt in Belgium, from 20 to 23 June (www.vespaworlddays2013.com).