ALL THE VESPA NOVELTIES:
PRIMAVERA TOURING, SPRINT 150 S,
PX TOURING AND 946 BELLISSIMA
Vespa range on show at EICMA 2014, with a wide range of models and versions to suit all tastes and needs. Here an overview of the main novelties.
PIAGGIO SOUND SYSTEM:
DEVELOPED FOR SOUND, TUNED FOR EMOTION
In a special area of the Piaggio Group mega stand at EICMA 2014 was a Vespa 946 Bellissima. The public came in wondering curiously: what’s this display? Next to the Vespa, an explanatory panel revealed the new “Piaggio Sound System”, and how it works: when you connect your smartphone to the Piaggio Sound System via Bluetooth® you can listen to your favourite music while you’re riding or parked with your friends! The powerful equalised digital amplifier and innovative exciter technology wrap the scooter in music. The system is invisible: no speakers, no cables or holes in the bodywork. No additional controls: just adjust the volume and balance directly from your smartphone; the system switches on with the scooter and turns off… when you stop dancing!
BELLISSIMA VESPA 946, 2014 COLLECTION
Vespa 946, the model of extraordinary exclusivity which has already become legend, presents Bellissima, the outstanding Collection 2014. Two new colours, Grey and Blue mark the new collection as well as the strict colours Black and White – now off list and delivered to the Vespa history –marked the production in 2013. The 2014 Collection pays homage to the highest levels of Vespa tradition and Italian design with elegant shades of silvery grey and blue. Timeless colours that perfectly interpret the bold and modern lines of the Vespa 946.
NEW VESPA PRIMAVERA TOURING SPECIAL SERIES
Vespa Primavera interprets the youngest and most dynamic spirit of the most popular scooter in the world. With the introduction of the 125 and 150 engine capacity models, Primavera confirms its attention to safety and its constant technological evolution. The new Vespa Primavera Touring special series debuts at Eicma 2014. So now Vespa Primavera is enriched by a new special range of Touring with accessories and aesthetic features inspired to travelling that Vespa has always embodied throughout its lengthy history. Vespa Primavera Touring, as the other Vespa models in this special outfitting, is enriched by a front and rear luggage rack both of which chromed that, as testimonial to the most classic Vespa iconography, greatly increase load carrying capacity and prepare the world's most popular scooter to take on any adventure packed journey. Touring's outfitting also includes a brown saddle matched with the new Silk Grey tint, elegant top fairing and a dedicated nameplate. The Vespa Primavera Touring series in available with Primavera engine capacity throughout the range, which are 50 2-stroke, 50 4-stroke 4V, 125 4-stroke 3V and 150 4-stroke 3V.
NEW VESPA SPRINT 150 S
Lively, quick, agile and light. Vespa Sprint embodies the spirit of the “sporty Vespino”, the legend of entire generations of young people. Now all eyes go to the all-new, extremely sporty Vespa Sprint 150 S. Remembering that the Vespa Sprint 125, Sprint 125 S and Sprint 150 S versions are available with the ABS system. The all-new Vespa Sprint 150 S débuts at EICMA 2014, enhancing the already extremely sport spirit thanks to a decisive line and appearance that, even when parked, convey a strong dynamic feel to this Vespa. The livery of the Vespa Sprint 150 S version is simple and appealing, putting emphasis on clean and sober lines while maintaining a minimalist stance with its exclusive Titanium Grey colour that, thanks to a small body, brings to mind the most aggressive models of the 70s.
In perfect tune with the new tint are the dedicated graphics and the black seat, as are the large 12” wheel rims that in black add greater emphasis to its essential elegance. The S version is available with a 50cc 2-stroke, 125cc 3V and – for the first time ever on the Vespa Sprint – a brilliant 150cc 3V engine. Vespa Sprint 125 S and Vespa Sprint 150 S are available with the ABS system.
NEW VESPA PX TOURING SPECIAL SERIES
Forming the link between the history of the world's most famous scooter and its future, the Vespa PX is back with a choice of its most classic engine sizes. Incomparable style, an engine which respects the most severe emissions standards and the classic four gear transmission make Vespa PX unmistakable and unique. PX now comes in the new TOURING special series, as homage to the adventurous trail-blazing spirit that has always driven Vespa. Vespa PX TOURING débuts at EICMA 2014: To further emphasize the natural inclination for touring that has made Vespa a legend of on-road adventures, the Vespa PX offering is enriched by a new special series: the Vespa PX Touring. Available in 125cc and 150cc engine capacities the special outfitting is dedicated to the enthusiasts the are fascinated with the adventurous touring spirit of the Vespa PX. Vespa PX Touring is fitted with the standard feature chrome front and rear luggage rack that greatly increase the vehicles' load carrying capacity; accessories which strongly characterise the touring range of the Vespa legend. The top fairing, colour of the seat – which was conceived in brown exclusively for this series to perfectly match the silk grey tint of the vehicle – and the dedicated plate located in the leg shield back plate make this special series a tribute to all trail-blazers that have spread Vespa's distinct style across roads all over the world.
TECHNOLOGY & NEW MOBILITY
EICMA 2014 SPECIAL REPORT
PIAGGIO ELECTRIC BIKE PROJECT:
THE BICYCLE OF THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE
PIAGGIO INVENTS A NEW WAY TO MEET THE MOST ADVANCED MOBILITY NEEDS: ELECTRIC BIKE PROJECT GOES WELL BEYOND THE CONCEPT OF AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE FUNCTIONS AND NEW LEVELS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN CYCLIST, MECHANICAL VEHICLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS SHOWN, AS WORLD PREMIERE, AT EICMA 2014 EXHIBITION IN MILAN
The Electric Bike by Piaggio: connected to the world
Piaggio Electric Bike Project goes beyond the concept of an assisted-pedal bicycle and approaches the market as a vehicle that interprets the most progressive mobility needs at 360 degrees, no longer intended simply as the ability to move about, but also as the presence and sharing of information over the most modern network and interaction forms with your vehicle.
Thanks to PMP (Piaggio Multimedia Platform) technology, Electric Bike Project has an ultra advanced man-mechanical vehicle interface and guarantees constant data sharing with the world, giving you with the opportunity to interact from any location and with any environment in its physical, social and experience dimension.
The Electric Bike Project Piaggio was shown, as world premiere, at the Eicma 2014 exhibition in Milan, and has attracted public and media.
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PIAGGIO GROUP:
TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP
For almost seventy years Piaggio Group has been a worldwide leader in development, production and sales of newer and newer forms of mobility.
The search for solutions that combine freedom and the simplicity of travel with quality of life and respect for the environment is a mission that the Piaggio Group has always pursued. Founded on research and technological innovation, the Piaggio Group's hold on the number one spot has been strengthened over the decades in products which have provide freedom to entire generations and revolutionised the concept of mobility itself several times, creating not only new means of transportation but inventing lifestyles, because mobility is always synonymous with freedom.
The Vespa legend which was born in the post war era, the most agile and lightweight mopeds of the '60s and '70s, and then electric, bimodal vehicles and finally hybrid engines – the only one of its kind in the scooter world – are milestones in a cultural and technological leadership that has always characterised Piaggio Group's vocation for innovation, with the earliest electric vehicle actually dating back to 1975.
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Out of this unique heritage of style and technology, today the Piaggio Electric Bike Project is born, a completely new vehicle that meets the most advanced needs and the most modern mobility trends.
MADE IN PIAGGIO ELECTRIC HEART
The heart of the Piaggio Electric Bike is a 250W-350W electric power unit entirely designed, developed and built by the Piaggio Group. It is an ultra modern and extremely compact motor with a shape designed for perfect insertion in the elegant aesthetics of the Electric Bike. In fact, its axial-symmetric shape, in other words, designed around the pedal axle, allows it to include the entire electric motor hidden behind the sprocket in order to greatly reduce the aesthetic impact.
But it is the entire powertrain (the motor, battery and control display assembly) of the Electric Bike Project that stands out for the technology it uses and for the functions it provides.
The electric motor control system is completely innovative and was developed by Piaggio. It works thanks to sophisticated control algorithms which guarantee its reliability.
The latest generation display is “contactless” and automatically powered via NFC near the control unit. The USB connection serves the dual function of being a smartphone charger and software update port. Diagnostics are also possible via smartphone by the rider, whereas for the service centre operations are possible via tablet – thanks once again to Bluetooth technology – for a more complete check.
Piaggio Electric Bike Project, thanks to its technology, also stands out for its high level of safety: the dashboard control unit, batteries and electric motor are connected unequivocally. This means that the three units can operate only if they are connected and communicating with one another. For example, removing the display (which operates as an electronic key) when parking renders the Electric Bike effectively unusable.
A GPS/GSM module is housed in the battery which functions both as a satellite antitheft device and a data transmission element from/for the battery. This way the charge status can be checked with a smartphone and you can receive the alert status on your device in the event of a poor charge, for example after a long period of disuse.
The 400 Wh ion and lithium battery is elegantly housed under the saddle in correspondence to the vertical pipe and provides particularly long range, on average between 60 and 120 kilometres depending on the mode of use and surrounding conditions. The battery guarantees the highest possible level of safety and, as with all of the powertrain components, it is completely waterproof (IP 65).
The Piaggio Electric Bike Project uses a belt drive combined with an advanced continuous variation automatic transmission, electronically assisted to always ensure the best possible ratio between an almost infinite choice of combination. This is technology that takes advantage of the Piaggio Group's extensive technical experience with this type of transmission.
As a tribute to active safety the powerful braking system is made up of two 180 mm discs on the front and 160 mm on the rear, gripped by hydraulic callipers.
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CONNECTED TO THE WORLD
Thanks to the PMP (Piaggio Multimedia Platform) technology, your smartphone integrates functionally with Electric Bike via Bluetooth. PMP allows constantly new functions to be developed from the fine tuning of "classic" services such as navigation up to any number of opportunities for personalisation of the powertrain operating modes over and above the base settings. In fact, conventional electrically pedal-assisted bicycles offer a limited and determined number of pedal assistance level settings with a contribution from the motor that always stays proportional to the energy applied by the cyclist once the operating mode is selected. The Piaggio Electric Bike Project, thanks to the exclusive DEA (Dynamic Engine Assistance) technology, allows the user to program the assistance level provided by the electric motor at a percentage that is always variable in ratio to the power provided by the cyclist.
Thanks to the possibility of varying the motor contribution, Piaggio Electric Bike is a true fitness machine where the cyclist can set his or her physical effort (for example, 100W of effort and a certain frequency of pedalling or maximum speed) leaving the motor free to increase or decrease its contribution based on the altimetric variations in order to comply with the set parameters which are consistent with the training program that the rider wants to achieve.
Also, through PMP you will be able to select predefined power output modes throughout the arc of use, real "motor mappings".
The PMP system, which can be controlled through your smartphone's screen, by buttons on the handlebar and with voice commands, is the base for virtually unlimited function developments. For example, the Smart Navigator calculates itineraries based on the routes recommended for cyclists (sourced from the web/communities), the altimetric profile of the route and the remaining battery consumption/range. It is therefore able to modulate on the route in order to obtain minimum battery consumption and to check motor power output to guarantee that you will arrive at your destination with the detected residual charge. Along the route the cyclist can report points of interest, road surface conditions, road work and any other type of information, thereby contributing to a web database that serves as a point of reference for the navigation software used by the riders in a community.
The “Back Home Alert” function notifies the cyclist when the remaining battery range is insufficient to return home or to any preset destination.
But the utilities PMS offer go far beyond this: it ranges from weather forecast information to functions connected to fitness and allows users to use the Electric Bike as a training tool in order to monitor health information and to achieve goals in terms of bodyweight, heart rate and calorie burning. The possibility to compare the stored data provides you with the opportunity to challenge yourself on various routes for the purpose of continuously monitoring the progress achieved in terms of performance and physical fitness.
Connectivity between the bike electronics and heart rate monitors, for example, allows you to manage the electric motor power output based on a heart rate goal (the lower this is the more the assistance provided by the motor will be). This way an athlete can load training programmes and manage his or her frequency on the route, in commuting you can choose not to exceed a maximum heart rate threshold for health reasons, or simply to keep from becoming overheated on your way to work.
PURE ITALIAN DESIGN
The elegantly sport design of the Electric Bike Project is the result of the Piaggio style centre which worked to combine the best and most distinctive Italian design with functionality and operating convenience.
Modern style, refined solutions and simplicity are the keywords that inspired the Piaggio Group designers in their work.
The result comes together in a frame made entirely in aluminium with a clearly sport look (diamond shape) that mounts a shock absorbed fork, also made in aluminium and which is available in various versions of Electric Bike Project starting from the classic male and unisex duo.
From a stylistic point of view the challenge of seamlessly inserting the powertrain parts (electric motor, transmission and battery) into the frame was particularly successful, leaving the bicycle's lines rationally clean and undisturbed.
In fact, the motor, designed around the pedal axle, remains hidden by the sprocket and the battery, which can be easily removed, is housed under the saddle on the horizontal pipe. And so the Electric Bike Project 's attention to simplicity and user-friendliness substantiates in shapes which have been conceived with functionality in mind and as a tribute to the elegance of Italian design.
Event
SPECIAL REPORT
THE PIAGGIO GROUP AT EICMA 2014:
“THE PRIDE OF BEING ITALIAN”
The Piaggio Group was at the 2014 EICMA motorcycle show (6-9 November, Fiera Milano-Rho exhibition centre) with a display of stunning new motorcycles from Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, flanked by the top-of-the-range vehicles from Piaggio’s other two-wheeler brands – Vespa, Scarabeo, Piaggio, Gilera, Derbi – and its tempting collections of accessories and apparel. At the top event in the world motorcycle industry calendar (which celebrates its centenary this year), the large Piaggio Group stand (replicating the concept of the Motoplex store in Mantua) put the spotlight on Aprilia and Moto Guzzi: the former a symbol of cutting-edge technology and racing prowess, the latter a synonym for Italy's motorcycle tradition and style. The exhibit also showcased the latest Vespa entries, from the sophisticated 946 Bellissima (2014 collection) to the Primavera Touring and PX Touring special series, and the rugged Sprint 150 S.
Eicma 2014. Piaggio Group
OPENING AND PRESS CONFERENCE.
The EICMA opening ceremony was held on the morning of Tuesday 4 November, in the Martini Hall invaded by the international media. The event celebrated the one-hundred-year history of the Milan two-wheeler show. In addition to the senior management of the Piaggio Group led by Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno, those present included numerous institutional and industry representatives: Corrado Capelli (president of Confindustria Ancma), EICMA president Antonello Montante and cabinet ministers Federica Guidi (Economic Growth) and Maurizio Lupi (Infrastructure & Transport). In the final group photo, the ministers were joined on the stage by the 2014 world motor-racing champions, “historic” champion Giacomo Agostini and Piaggio Group Racing manager Romano Albesiano, fresh from the triumph that saw Aprilia sweep the board at the WSBK 2014 championship, in a thrilling final in Losail that brought home both the Riders world title with Sylvain Guintoli, and the Manufacturers title. Ministers Guidi and Lupi later visited the Piaggio Group stand, accompanied by Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno. Michele Colaninno, Chairman and CEO of the Immsi group, was also present.
ROBERTO COLANINNO: “THE PRIDE OF BEING ITALIAN, APRILIA LED THE FIELD”.
The eagerly awaited press conference at the Piaggio Group stand began at 1.30 p.m. The first question for Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno: “how did you feel on Sunday 2 November when Aprilia won the Superbike world championship on the Losail circuit in Qatar?”. “The pride of being Italian,” replied Colaninno. “Aprilia led the field ahead of all the top world players; we were out in front (with great class and a strong lead), in front of the Japanese, the Germans … all of them looking at the exhaust of a bike racing like a bat out of hell, a bike built in Noale, designed in Noale, driven by Guintoli, an outstanding rider. I know these are difficult, complex times, but adrenalin drives you on to more important, greater things. So at 9 o’clock that evening, I called everyone and said ‘what are we going to do now?’. I told the ‘father’ of the bike we’ll be racing in the MotoGp in 2015 (Romano Albesiano, ed.) that I wanted to be on the podium, in a couple of years I want to see Aprilia in front and everyone else behind. We’re taking on a huge commitment. And this stand delivers everything we promised last year: new motorbikes, exceptional accessories like the smart helmet for rider safety, and then the bicycle: an ‘old’ vehicle we have brought up to date with the latest technological tools, in cooperation with our partners Vodafone and Samsung.”
“WE WANT TO ASTONISH OUR CUSTOMERS”.
Colaninno continued: “We want to astonish our customers, show them what Piaggio can do. We have important cooperation agreements with leading research centres, in and outside Italy, with product development targets linked to cost, safety and pollution reduction; targets to be combined with satisfaction and the fun of riding exciting two-wheelers like these. I want Piaggio to consolidate these targets and, in the coming years, to lead the way in technology, innovation and racing. They’re not easy targets, but the people who’ve brought us this far have shown that we can aim for new records: I’m confident. I can see Aprilia, our Italian bike, ahead of everyone again, ahead of the world, ahead of the competition. In other words, there is hope in Italy, important things can be done. Thanks to Albesiano and everyone who contributed to this marvellous result. We’re excited about the next few years. We’re looking ahead, we’re confident we can succeed, that we can win and make life difficult for our competitors wherever we meet and wherever they want to test themselves against us, not just on the race-track but on the market too. We have an important development strategy in Asia, in the USA (which also means South America) and then in Europe, by focusing on the sales network. To astonish customers, be at their side.”
Next on the stage was Romano Albesiano, who revealed that the “engine of our MotoGP 2015 bike, based on a road engine, has already been out and it packs a powerful punch, better than we hoped, it’s an excellent V4 engine; but as we all know, you never have enough horsepower, our wonderful engineers are hard at work”. In 2015, Aprilia will be racing in the MotoGp, Sbk and Superstock 1000 championships.
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TOWARDS PIAGGIO 2.0.
The press conference continued with the Group managers illustrating new products and strategies, where the keywords are: innovation, advanced vehicle-rider communication, links between racing and its advanced technology, extended to mass production, market expansion (in 2015 Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycles will be distributed on Asian markets). Piaggio will be flanking its products with quality services, a more advanced relationship with the customer (one example is the Motoplex store, where the buyer experience is mixed with entertainment and geared to customisation), in part through the global communities (including the new The Clan Moto Guzzi, #bearacer Aprilia, Do you Vespa) and effective marketing and communication campaigns.
The conference was closed by Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno: “We are and will continue to be an Italian group; we shall go round the world with our products, with the intention of beating our competitors and everyday difficulties, with the enthusiasm of seeing the Italian flag still at the head of the field.”
Event
SPECIAL REPORT
EICMA 2014:
THE MAIN NEW PRODUCT ENTRIES
EICMA 2014 was also an opportunity for the Piaggio Group to show the results of its continuing focus on research for the development of new forms of mobility and systems providing ever-greater integration between user and mechanical vehicle, and between the vehicle and the environment. All the new entries are presented in the Product and Technology columns of this issue of Wide. Here, we look at the highlights that will be fascinating the two-wheeler world next season.
PHOTO GALLERY
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (RR and Factory versions): Aprilia’s supernaked has been completely revamped: not only is it more powerful and faster, above all it is more fun and easier to use on the road. Aprilia RSV4 RR: the new Aprilia RSV4 generation, the winner of seven WSBK championship titles in five years. V4-MP Multimedia Platform: available for the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 and Aprilia RSV4 RR, this new evolution of the Multimedia Platform allows you to connect your smartphone to the bike and program the electronic controls bend by bend on the circuit. Skully HUD Helmet: thanks to Piaggio Group cooperation with Skully (an American Heads-up display helmet manufacturer), full integration will be possible between the functions of the Piaggio Multimedia Platform and the most advanced heads-up display technology. Moto Guzzi Eldorado: the modern luxurious interpretation of the unforgettable 850 that made its fortune in the States in the late 1960s. Moto Guzzi Audace: ostentatious, muscular and fierce, this bike is immediately distinguished by its front end: a circular headlamp unit and carbon mudguard. Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring S.E.: new two-tone graphics, built-in passenger backrest and grab handle. Piaggio Electric Bike Project: this vehicle moves beyond the concept of a pedal-assisted bicycle to interpret the most progressive mobility requirements. Its core is a 250W-350W electric motor designed entirely by the Piaggio Group. Its anti-theft security system is exceptional, as is the reliability of the on-board systems and the lithium ion battery. And with the new Piaggio Multimedia Platform, the opportunities for interaction with the vehicle multiply.
EICMA 2014:
A RECORD SHOW
The centennial edition of the World Motorcycle Exhibition goes down in the annals as a milestone event: compared with last year, the number of visitors rose by 14.7% with 628,600 members of the public coming through the gates of the Milan Rho exhibition centre. The six halls and outdoor area, covering an overall surface of 280,000 square metres, welcomed 1,053 exhibitors from 34 countries, 14 international competitions, 600 two-wheeler riders and “artists”.
Not only did EICMA attract a record turnout, it also proved to be an outstanding B2B event, with exhibitors welcoming 45,910 trade visitors, in line with 2013. Geographically, the breakdown was 69% from Europe; 9% from the USA; 19% from Asia; 2% from Africa; 1% from Oceania.
Media coverage confirmed EICMA’s role as the world’s most important event in the two-wheeler industry and the only exhibition that covers every facet of the sector. From 4 to 9 November 2014, the world motorcycle exhibition was visited by 6,945 communication professionals (journalists, cameramen and photographers), with a geographical breakdown similar to that of 2013: 70% from Europe; 17% from Asia; 12% from the USA; 0.50% from Africa and 0.50% from Oceania.
Equal interest was generated outside the exhibition centre, with the fourth edition of what has been described as Milan fashion bike week. Two-wheelers became part of daily urban life in the city with a series of entertainment events.
The 2015 world motorcycling exhibition will be held from 3 to 8 November (with 3 and 4 November reserved for the press and trade). INFO. www.eicma.it
MOTOPLEX…AT THE EXHIBITION
EICMA, the world’s top motorcycle show, also hosted Motoplex, the first concept store to showcase experience. Two key events were organised on the Piaggio Group stand: on 7 November, the Motoplex Friday Night Party, with the DJ set of Kris Reichert and Mirko De Crescenzo; all rhythm, fun and energy; on 8 November, Piaggio Motoplex was transformed into a TV studio, whose maxi screens broadcast a live presentation compered by Federico Russo, of the cast of the future Aprilia Ombrelline (or Paddock Girls) for MotoGP 2015.
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TESTER FOR A DAY
Event
PIAGGIO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
AT “ECOMONDO 2014”
Piaggio Commercial Vehicles was an exhibitor at “Ecomondo 2014”, the international tradeshow devoted to green solutions: materials recovery, renewable energy, sustainable development. The exhibition was subdivided into different sections: waste treatment, materials recycling and related services, collection and transportation, recovery and treatment of inert waste, remediation, water and air.
Ecomondo 2014 - Piaggio Commercial Vehicles
A date not to be missed for producers, industry players, public and private operators. Operators like Piaggio Commercial Vehicles: its stand included a Porter Electric Tipper, DRL version, equipped with a Road-scan camera for road safety (a sort of on-board “electronic eye”, fitted with an accelerometer and GPS tracker).
Piaggio Commercial Vehicles offers a broad versatile range of Porter vehicles (also in electric and bi-fuel versions) for every sort of business transport need, including versions fitted out specifically for waste collection and urban hygiene. The Ape range is equally broad and versatile, with an evergreen selection of hard-working vehicles. INFO. www.piaggioveicolicommerciali.it
THE GREEN ECONOMY TRADESHOW
Ecomondo is the Mediterranean’s reference platform for the main European and international strategies for eco-innovation and transformation of waste into a resource. The event is an ideal forum for exhibitors to meet national and international competitors, public/private partners and new target clients from industry, services, construction, government agencies and utilities. Ecomondo is the largest showcase in the Mediterranean for the most effective technological solutions for the correct management and use of waste in all its forms, as well as for water-saving, efficient use of waste and raw or secondary materials, and for energy efficiency.
Ecomondo is an annual B2B and R2B event where national and international experts examine the main technical issues relating to waste management in priority industrial sectors (soil, air), environmental protection and remediation, sustainable transport and the technological priorities of smart cities, with a densely packed agenda of issue-specific conferences.
The 2014 edition (5-8 November, Rimini Fiera) confirmed the success of Ecomondo, with over 93,000 professional visitors, buyers from 40 countries and more than 1,000 exhibitors on the 100,000 m2 area in the sixteen pavilions of the Rimini exhibition centre. Next year’s event, the 19th, is 3-6 November 2015, at Rimini Fiera.
INFO. www.ecomondo.com
The “ECO BEE” ELECTRIC APE OF THE PRETTO GROUP
The Piaggio stand at Ecomondo was “twinned” with the stand of the Pretto Group (from Ponsacco, in the province of Pisa), a Piaggio Commercial Vehicles dealer for the electric Porter, which specialises in electric vehicles.Pretto displayed vehicles from its new “Eco Bee” range, the electric vehicle based on the Piaggio Ape, available in short or long pick-up, van and cross-country versions. A compact, versatile and efficient working companion, with zero emissions. A true friend of the environment.
“If you want to build a ship for a long voyage, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea; then they’ll help you build the ship” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).
VESPA 946 “RICORDO ITALIANO”
The Vespa 946 was entered for the 2014 ADI DESIGN INDEX competition, in the new section “Design for Mobility”, and has been selected as one of the best design objects of the year. The ADI Design Index is an annual publication of the Italian Association for Industrial Design (ADI), which, year after year, brings together the best of Italian design put into production. The selection was made by the ADI Design permanent observatory, consisting of 150 independent experts, who identified the best results of contemporary Italian design after examining more than 600 applications. The selection included products or product systems, assessed in the various categories, together with the related theoretical, historical and critical research and process or company research.
This year, some of the index categories have been changed to reflect the new physiognomy of Italian design: two new categories have been introduced, Design for Mobility and Design for Communication (to focus specifically on areas previously included in other categories), while the central Design for Living category has been partially reorganised to include urban décor and outdoor furniture. The importance of the categories for Social Design and Services Design is growing.
Selection and inclusion in the ADI Design Index constitutes a pre-selection for participation for the ADI Compasso d’Oro award, assigned every three years by a jury appointed by the ADI and the ADI Foundation on the basis of the selection published in the annual ADI Design Index. The continuous quality assessment method used by the observatory in the selection process for the Compasso d’Oro award is unique in Italy and on the international stage.
EXHIBITIONS IN MILAN AND ROME
VESPA 946 “RICORDO ITALIANO”
The Vespa 946 is one of the products selected for 2014; altogether, 10 products have been “showcased” in the Design for Mobility category. Beginning this year, the ADI is promoting special exhibitions to maximise visibility for the selected companies and products. At the end of October, an itinerant exhibition left Milan (where it had been held at the Spazio ex Ansaldo) for a showing in Rome in November seen by a large international public (at the “Ex Cartiera Latina” in Via Appia Antica). Luigi Coppola reports on the Milan and Rome exhibitions in these video clips.
A presentation of the ADI Design Index exhibition in the capital was held on 12 November at the Farnesina, the government building that houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation: the audience included members of the diplomatic corps (trade and cultural attachés), members of the international academies and cultural institutions located in Rome, and a large press turnout.
“Since 1946 Vespa’s style and design quite simply represent the scooter, or rather, that type of motorcycle that during the post-war period was synonymous with a new freedom of movement and emancipation. The Vespa 946 is the latest chapter in the story, and through a rereading of the company’s history, it pays homage to the founder, the prototype MP6, re-interpreting those traits that characterized its unique aesthetics. This model represents the pursuit of the Vespa spirit and in actual fact, offers a bringing up-to-date of those lines that made the original both famous and desired, without neglecting current needs in terms of sustainability and low environmental impact, as well as new advanced technological solutions: from the electronic fuel injection 3 valve 125cc engine to friction reduction and an improvement in fluid dynamics, to features that allow a significant reduction in consumption and emissions, thus guaranteeing the best performance figures in this category.”
PART OF THE HISTORY OF DESIGN. It should be mentioned here that the Vespa is included in the list drawn up by leading international experts for CNN of the twelve most iconic objects in world design in the last 100 years: it has gone down in history as one of the legends of industrial design, a product that has changed the world.
VESPA MP6 PROTOTIPO, 1945
VESPA 98cc, 1946
VESPA 946 “BELLISSIMA”, 2014
VESPA 946 “BELLISSIMA”, 2014
PEOPLE
BEIJING: LU JIANKUN’S
PASSION FOR THE VESPA
A 37-YEAR-OLD MECHANIC WITH A PASSION FOR THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS SCOOTER. HE RESTORES VINTAGE MODELS FROM THE 1970S AND 1980S, ATTRACTING COVERAGE IN LEADING NEWSPAPERS INCLUDING BEIJING TODAY AND IL CORRIERE DELLA SERA
(Photo of Lu Jiankun: P. Salom, corriere.it)
It was 2009 and leading dailies like “Beijing Today” (China) and “Il Corriere della Sera” (Italy) were publishing articles about Lu Jiankun, 32, a devotee of the Vespa, the world’s most famous scooter. “I fell in love with it when I saw the movie Roman Holiday,” he told the reporters.
Like so many other Vespa lovers, Lu was waiting for the scooter to be distributed in China (where it was a rare and sought-after vehicle). In the meantime, in his garage in the Beijing suburbs, he restored 30- and 40-year-old vintage models, which he regards as his “treasures”. The first scooter he worked on was a PX, found after a sort of treasure hunt on specialised websites and trade magazines, among scooter dealers and word-of-mouth among the cognoscenti. After that, Lu carried on looking for other Vespa scooters to restore.
So, for the photographers, Lu was able to show off his three lovingly restored beauties (the oldest of which he uses for spare parts). As a result, he has become the most famous collector of Italian scooters in the Chinese capital, even achieving a mention on the front page of “Beijing Today”. Lu says he loves everything about Italy: not just the Vespa, but Italian fashion and style … His first car was Italian too, a Fiat 126.
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The numbers of devotees of Italian design and products in China are growing: Lu and many others are members of “Weisiba pengyoumen”, a group on Douban.com (a Chinese web community similar to Facebook), which reveals that the Vespa has a large following in China and has been an object of desire for generations of youngsters for years.
The long wait came to an end in 2014: distribution of the Vespa in China began in July, starting in Beijing (reports and photos in the Markets column of this issue of Wide). In the first Vespa store in the People’s Republic of China, Lu and the scooter’s other followers now have the opportunity for a hands-on encounter with the evergreen Vespa range.
MARKETS
BEIJING: VESPA BRAND LAUNCH IN CHINA
25 AND 26 JULY 2014: DEBUT OF PIAGGIO GROUP COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. BRAND LAUNCH EVENT AND OPENING OF THE FIRST VESPA STORE. OBJECTIVE: THE PREMIUM MARKET SEGMENT
Eagerly awaited by Chinese consumers, the Vespa has officially landed in China. On 25 July, in the impressive setting of the Beijing 798 Art Zone (the capital’s arts and culture district), the launch event was attended by dealers, VIPs and the media, together with members of the Vespa Beijing Club and Vesparadoes. It was an “historic moment”, said the senior executives of Piaggio China and Asia Pacific 2 Wheeler, a milestone in the Piaggio Group’s business development on the Chinese market.
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On 26 July, the day after the launch, the first Vespa Store opened in Beijing, marking the start of Piaggio Group direct sales operations in China to gain a positioning in the premium segment of the republic’s two-wheeler market. In the spacious store, clients have the opportunity to take a close look at the Vespa range distributed in China – five models are currently available, LX 150, LXV 150, S 150, GTS 300 and the top-end Vespa 946 – and book test rides.
A worldwide scooter icon, with its distinctive design and cutting-edge technology, a symbol of Italian style, the Vespa has always stood for freedom and elegance. It is no surprise that Chinese brand devotees are looking forward to experiencing the unique sensation of riding a Vespa, on the daily commute and in their leisure time. Innovative technology and a strong cosmopolitan personality, the expression of a unique lifestyle for nearly 70 years, the Vespa scooter has successfully come through changing times and fashions with numerous models and versions (150 since it made its debut in Italy in 1946), but has always stayed true to itself: now the Vespa is ready to charm Chinese consumers. As one of the few products in the world where use of the word “icon” is no exaggeration, the scooter has been welcomed with immense enthusiasm and passion.
The Vespa has won global recognition from the worlds of fashion, design and art, as well as the movies, starring in many box-office hits. In the fashion industry, famous names such as Bulgari, Vogue, D&G and many others have cooperated with Vespa on product placement projects in boutiques in world capitals and on customisation projects to create unique versions of the scooter.
Style and ease of use combined with riding comfort, the Vespa is manufactured following strict international quality and safety standards. Engineered entirely in Italy, the Vespa fuel injection engines are at the technological cutting edge, setting international standards for emissions and consumption. Each model and version is designed for specific requirements and “personalities”, and the scooters for the Chinese are among the best-selling models, with a wide range of colours. In Beijing too, there are endless reasons to choose a Vespa.
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A GLOBAL BRAND
Vespa is the expression of a uniquely distinctive lifestyle, and has today become one of the most famous and celebrated brands worldwide. The enduring success of the scooter is tied to its extraordinary historic, symbolic and iconographic heritage. Ever since the launch of the first model in 1946, the Vespa has satisfied the aspirations of customers seeking a “cult” product, a symbol of design, creativity and Italian technology, the star of movies and advertising campaigns all over the planet.
The brand’s strength lies in its technical nature. The Vespa is a two-wheeler which is reliable and easy to use, and extremely sturdy thanks to its steel body making it unique in the segment. Vespa enjoys an unparalleled level of success worldwide and a consistent brand image in all the markets it operates in: In Europe and America as much as in Asia, Vespa is a byword for an exclusive, elegant, “Made in Italy” scooter.
Adventure
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
IN MEMORY OF THE ADVENTURE OF HIS FATHER ROBERTO – WHO RODE FROM MILAN TO TOKYO ON A VESPA 50 YEARS AGO – FRANCO COMPLETED A COAST-TO-COAST TRIP IN THE USA
ROBERTO PATRIGNANI, KAMAKURA, JAPAN, 1964
FRANCO PATRIGNANI, NEW YORK, 2014
No doubt about it, a passion for the Vespa is something you inherit, like a taste for travel and adventure. The story of Roberto and Franco Patrignani is a case in point. Half a century ago, journalist, writer, rider and traveller Roberto Patrignani (Florence 1935 - Milan 2008) completed a celebrated ride on a Vespa from Milan to Tokyo.
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In those days, there were no sat nav systems, smartphones or video cameras in crash helmets: just the courage to get on a blue Vespa 150 and set off on a truly epic expedition. Riding solo, Roberto Patrignani travelled 13,000 kilometres, through all kinds of weather including monsoons, and on every type of road. He rode through Yugoslavia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong to reach Japan (and deliver the Europe Vespa Club Trophy to the 1964 Olympics Organising Committee). Three months on the road, from July to October, more than 100 days, of which 80 on his Vespa. The perfect companion: and only one problem… a puncture!
VIDEO STORICO LUCE
Half a century later, to commemorate Roberto’s expedition, his son Franco, an architect, set off from New York in July on his modern Vespa GTS 300 for an exciting coast-to-coast trip across the USA to Los Angeles. Franco’s solo ride was about 8,000 kilometres through memorable scenery in nine States (New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California), and the opportunity to put his wheels on America’s legendary Route 66. A worthy tribute to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his father’s trip, still a milestone in two-wheeler adventures. And in the history of the Vespa.
Mandello del Lario, the home of Moto Guzzi, paid tribute to Roberto Patrignani on his birthday, 21 November, and celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his famous ride on a Vespa from Milan to Tokyo. Roberto’s achievements also included two Milan-Taranto races, two Round Italy events, three Tourist Trophy classifications, world records with the Moto Guzzi 1000 and the Garelli 50, and participation in 150 races, until 1989. Then a series of solo trips (on a Vespa, but also on a Dingo Cross, a 50cc off-road two-wheeler produced by Moto Guzzi between 1960 and 1970, on which he rode to Africa) and a busy career as a journalist and writer. Mandello honoured Roberto with a special event at the “De Andrè” theatre, packed with memories and emotions, stories and photos, video clips and tributes from many other riders. These included Angelo Tenconi (the “king of uphill races”), who with Patrignani and other great Moto Guzzi V7 riders set new world endurance records on the Monza circuit in the second half of the 1960s.
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On the road
SIMONE SCIUTTERI’S EUROPEAN TOUR:
ON A VESPA PK 50, FOR A PLACE IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS
He intends to ride more than 16,000 kilometres on the roads of Europe. The goal is to set a new record in the “Longest Journey on a 50cc” category. Simone left on 7 November from Milan, directly from the offices of the online daily Moto.it, which is publishing a blow-by-blow account of this on-the-road adventure, in its Journeys column.
EuroVespa: Simone Sciutteri
Protagonist Simone Sciutteri (from Albisola Superiore, in the Italian province of Savona, Liguria) tells Moto.it how the idea for the trip came to him: “It was spring 2010: my poor old scooter, exhausted by the adolescent forays of my younger brother, leaves me stranded. I’m on foot and urgently need a two-wheeler to get to work. A friend offers me his Vespa PK 50 from 1986: ‘It’s a bit old, it needs a service, but it’s roadworthy,’ he tells me. ‘It’s yours for 150 euro, I don’t use it anymore.’ I had never ridden a two-wheeler with gears; in fact, I’ve never been a biker and I got my first scooter at 18, when I got my driving licence. But I liked the Vespa, and needed a scooter, so I accepted his offer immediately.” Add to this a passion for travel, dreams of a thousand itineraries: “So, last year I came up with Eurovespa… I started thinking seriously about the idea of travelling to all the EU countries and all the acceding countries and EU-approved candidates. No barriers, customs, visas. A way to discover Europe, without politics and bureaucracy. A slow trip, along B roads and through villages.”
An old-style journey, says Simone, in honour of the late great Vesparado Giorgio Bettinelli: “A solo trip, without GPS; using maps and asking passers-by for information. A tent and a sleeping bag to use whenever possible. To discover, understand, experience. From Italy to Turkey, through the Balkans and from there northward to Finland, Sweden and back down to Denmark. Then eastward to the British Isles and down to the Iberian peninsula and Portugal, and finally back to Italy, after thousands of kilometres and weeks on the road. That’s the plan, the theory, the route plotted on the map … More than 16,000 kilometres, and if I achieve my objective, I will have set a new Guinness record in the category Longest Journey on a 50cc.”
What equipment has Simone taken with him? “The bare minimum of luggage, plus maps, some spare parts, some exercise books to use as a Log Book for the Guinness Book of Records (plus a Spot GPS device, which will track my route without my being able to see it), a notebook for my updates to Moto.it, a camera of course, and an awareness that it will be a tiring and perhaps sometimes tricky journey. On the other hand, they call it an adventure don’t they?” Peyton is the name Simone has given to his Vespa, as he explains in Moto.it: “It’s for Peyton Manning, a US football champion; a few years ago, he had to have an operation on his neck, and everyone thought he was finished, his old team dumped him. But he returned and became the champion he had always been…dear old Vespa, everyone thought you were finished, yet here we are: ready for the road, and who knows, perhaps we too will manage to set a new record.”
Have a good trip Simone, and good luck Peyton!
THE PRECEDENT: CLAUDIO TORRESAN
ON A GILERA STALKER 50 IN TAJIKISTAN
Another noteworthy journey was made by Claudio Torresan, a young engineer from Treviso, whose passion for motorcycles and travel led him to undertake a challenging adventure, which also won him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
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Claudio left from Carbonera (Treviso) on 28 March 2010 for Tajikistan, specifically Dushanbe, on the border with China. During the section to Shumen, in Bulgaria, the young rider (aged 26 at the time) achieved a Guinness record in the category “Longest distance travelled with a 50cc scooter”.
Tajikistan
Claudio continued his trip for several thousand kilometres (over 8 months), clocking up a total of 17,446 km. He was riding a Gilera Stalker scooter from 1998, to which he made a number of adjustments, both to the mechanics and on the chassis, changing the frame so that he could load the small scooter with cases and top boxes.
(Source: motoblog.it).
On the road
ADVENTURES: FROM BOLOGNA TO MOSCOW
WITH THE PIAGGIO CIAO IN RED SQUARE
FIVE FRIENDS (THREE RIDERS AND TWO SUPPORTERS), TWO WEEKS ON THE ROADS OF EASTERN EUROPE, ALMOST 3,500 KM: THIS IS THE “GALLIERA-MOSCOW RALLY WITH THE CIAO”. AN EXCITING AND EXHAUSTING “EXPLOIT”: WHAT ON EARTH MADE THEM DO IT? READ ON FOR THE ANSWERS
The pleasure of one another’s company and a taste for a challenge led a group of friends to plan an unusual trip. Three riders on Piaggio Ciao mopeds and two friends providing back-up in a camper van/mechanics shop complete with trailer set off from Bologna on 2 August 2014 to reach Moscow’s Red Square on 16 August, after riding almost 3,500 kilometres. On their return to their hometown of Galliera in the province of Bologna, after capturing press and TV attention around Europe with their adventure, they were feted as local heroes. The three riders all come from Galliera: Zello (aka Fabrizio Franzoni, 48, chef), who organised the trip; Fiorello (Stefano Calafiore, 47, lorry driver); Poggio (Manuele Poggioli, 37, artisan); the supporters in the camper van were Paolo Poggioli (driver, mechanic and cook’s help) and Simone Bianchi (cook, photographer, cameraman, web manager). In this interview, they answer the questions all the reporters asked them before, during and after their summer adventure.
WHY DID YOU UNDERTAKE SUCH A CHALLENGING TRIP WITH THE CIAO?
“Eh! It would have been easy with a large motorbike, and we all have one. But the Ciao moped is a real adventure.”
WHEN DID YOUR PASSION FOR THE CIAO BEGIN?
“When we were teenagers, it was our ‘scooter’… great memories!”
WHAT ROUTE DID YOU TAKE?
“We left on 2 August 2014 from Bologna’s main station and rode to San Donà di Piave; then Rosegg and Langnwang in Austria; Topoľčany, in Slovakia; a few kilometres in the Czech Republic, then into Poland, to Bielsko-Biała; we visited the concentration camps in Auschwitz, crossed Krakow and stopped in Nowy Korczyn, before heading for Kock and Korycin. Then we rode to Kaunas and the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, in Lithuania; then Bauska and Rēzekne. On 13 August, we crossed the Russian border and made our first stop in Pustoška, then Ržev and finally we reached our destination: Moscow, on the afternoon of 16 August! We started off on the return trip on 17 August, all five of us in the camper van, with the Ciao mopeds in the trailer. We arrived in San Venanzio di Galliera on the afternoon of Saturday 23 August.”
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WHAT PROBLEMS DID YOU HAVE DURING THE TRIP?
“Ten days of rain out of a total of fifteen days on the road. We rode from 150 to 300 km a day. The Ciao mopeds were excellent, we had no mechanical problems, and didn’t pick up any fines.”
WHAT WAS THE MOST EXCITING MOMENT?
“When we reached our destination: there we were, in Moscow’s Red Square with our Piaggio Ciao mopeds. As we went across the square, the crowds were watching us, lots of people came over to find out who we were, a bride and groom even asked if they could be photographed on our mopeds. It was a wonderful experience, none of us will ever forget it. We met people from every corner of the globe, who came over to congratulate us. We took the ritual photos with the sponsors’ t-shirts, handed out small gifts to the passers-by and left our hometown pennant in Red Square.”
BUT WHY DID YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THIS TRIP?
“We simply wanted to be with our friends, do something a bit different, go to new places and meet people.”
What next? A “sabbatical year”, dreaming of the next rally: “Galliera-Marrakech” in 2016. This time with three Ape Car 50 vans (fitted out especially for the trip, finances permitting…), travelling along the French and Spanish coast to Gibraltar and then the ferry over to Africa with the Ape vans (in the colours of the Italian flag: green, red and white). CIAO!
On the Piaggio Group stand at EICMA 2014 in Milan, the shop areas displaying the Vespa clothing and accessories collections attracted large numbers of visitors. A wide selection of quality items, which make original gifts for scooter friends, and not just for them: these articles – for him and for her – are the ideal choice for everyone who appreciates style with attention to design, materials and details. They can be found at Vespa dealers and at the online Vespa Store online: take a look at the galleries to start making your choice of the “right” gift.
2015 PREVIEW. The new 2015 apparel collection previewed at the Milan show includes hoodies with logo (colours: blue, prune, green, grey), as well as a model with zip (blue, red, green); t-shirts (prune, grey, green) in 100% cotton jersey with a water-based print (prune, grey, green) or a flock print (red, blue).
ORNAMENTAL IDEAS. The new Vespa Jewels collection was eagerly awaited: a leather bracelet with an enamelled silver «Vespa» plaque, available in six colours: blue, light blue, green, red, prune and brown. Or a leather bracelet with an enamelled silver «Vespa» griffe (colours: blue, light blue, green, red, prune). Cufflinks: an irresistible touch of style, available in three models: Vespa 946, in silver with stamped logo; Vespa PX, in silver, in the form of the scooter with a stamped logo (two versions: in red or navy blue enamel); Vespa Primavera, in silver, in the form of the scooter with a stamped logo (three versions: blue, green or red enamel).
MERCHANDISE CHIC. You can tell a true Vespa lover from the details. He or she will express their passion for the brand even when they’re dressing the Xmas tree or simply decorating their house or desk with Vespa baubles. For a token gift, choose a mug or a model, an alarm clock or an enamelled key ring. For practical chic, the beige and black Vespa rug comes with straps, so you can roll it up and take it anywhere.
HELMETS AND BAGS. You can’t go wrong if you choose a top-quality Vespa helmet, or a bag, available in a variety of models and colours. Coming soon: as previewed at the EICMA show, the new premium collection of leather bags and a tartan top box. To cut a dash, with the unique Vespa style.
DO YOU VESPA?
THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR NON-FOLLOWERS
The new official “Do You Vespa?” community was launched just over a month ago, and Vespa lovers have already clocked up more than 55,000 Vespa Miles. How? By sharing stories and images every day from all over the world: Canada, Turkey, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Italy, Britain, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, the USA. The great journey on the roads of creativity continues, towards new destinations. In just a few weeks, the global community has gone from success to success, attracting growing numbers of Vespa lovers from all over the world.
THE MANIFESTO. “It may seem an odd question, but we’re an odd breed, aren’t we? Quite happy to ride our own path. Even when it goes in the opposite direction to everyone else. Trends come and go, but they’re not for us. We welcome change but on our own terms. We’re not trying to be different, but we know who we are, and we know what we want. That’s the mark of a Vespa lover.”
CONTENTS. The community’s website looks at adventure, fun, friendship, travel, inspiration, love, style, urban life. It does so through stories, news, images. By creating a poster with the online personalisable formats, or telling a story through a photo-strip with the other explorers in this boundless community. And earning mile after mile, together with the Vespa.
Visit the site at:
www.doyouvespa.com
The Ape van is a milestone in the history of urban mobility and light transport: for more than sixty years, this unique vehicle has been driven on roads all over the world. A true legend from generation to generation, an impressive performer that stands out from the crowed with its inimitable personality, a mixture of unmistakeable design and empathy. Intended for small businesses, the perfect solution for goods transport even in the narrowest city streets, the Ape has also always been a chic alternative for passenger transport.
The Ape is the object of desire of thousands of passionate collectors in every continent. A unique vehicle that has acquired legendary status, it had top billing at “EuroApe 2014”, an event held over the weekend of 29/30 November.
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First held in 2008, the EuroApe rally attracts devotees from far and wide. This year, a caravan of Ape vans of all ages, including many special versions demonstrating the creativity this small three-wheeler has always inspired, assembled in a location with some of Italy's most spectacular scenery, the castle of Pavone Canavese, in the province of Turin. A magical spot in a fairy-tale setting, the ideal choice for a special vehicle genuinely made in Italy. The 2014 EuroApe rally was organised by the Ape Club d'Italia in cooperation with the Vespa World Club, the Piaggio Group/Commercial Vehicles and the Olivetti Historical Archive in Ivrea.
EuroApe 2014
The weekend program began on the Saturday with an Ape Tour and an Ape-ritivo with dinner in a typical Piedmontese restaurant. On Sunday 30, an on-the-road parade to Ivrea to visit the Olivetti Historical Archive; after lunch, in the sumptuous halls of Pavone Castle with their paintings and tapestries, the award-presentation ceremony closed the 2014 EuroApe proceedings.
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A few figures from the weekend: about fifty Ape vans took part, an assortment of recent and vintage models, including two rare Pentarò vans; a number of Ape Clubs were present, including Aosta, Verona and Udine Pantianicco (the latter won the award as the largest group, with seventeen Ape 50 vans in attendance). About one hundred supporters turned up, with individual Ape enthusiasts from Turin, Bologna, Milan, Vicenza, Recco and Austria. Piaggio Commercial Vehicles exhibited its new entries, the Ape Calessino 200 HL and the Ape Classic 400. The inclement weather with two days of rain was no obstacle for the Ape and plans are already underway for EuroApe 2015!
VIETNAM – VESPA ON THE ROAD TOUR CON GTS E PRIMAVERA
A trip on a Vespa, with your friends, free to go exploring. What a great feeling you get from watching these videos “posted” on YouTube by young Vespa riders in Asia, reporting on their scooter tours in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The youngsters on their beloved two-wheelers, and all of us taking a virtual trip with them. Bon voyage!
From Singapore to Malaysia &Thailand: 3 Weeks Vespa Road Trip in 3 minutes
3 Riders, 3 Vespa Scooter, 3 weeks roadtrip captured with Drift HD Ghost and Canon Powershot S100. Write report and more video by the blogger Juvena of Singapore on: https://thewanderingwasp.blogspot.sg
ALEX’S PIT STOP IN SAN DIEGO,
ON A JOURNEY FROM ALASKA TO ARGENTINA
All over the world, Vespa devotees can count on the extensive network of dealers and technical service shops. Both for daily commutes and for journeys of a more adventurous kind. Yet another demonstration comes from this video filmed by the Vespa Motorsport dealer in San Diego, California, who welcomed Alex, a young German Vesparado travelling from Alaska to Argentina on a vintage yellow Vespa PX (a 2-year tour, which began in 2013). Alex’s “pit stop” with the Californian dealer is fully documented: how he prepared the Vespa for the trip, his equipment, technical details. The great thing is that the dealer doesn’t call Alex a “client”, but a “friend”. Not surprising: this is the genuine Vespa spirit. Friendship around the world.
ALASKA TO ARGENTINA ON A VINTAGE VESPA
VESPA MOTORSPORT
Vespa Motorsport is located at 3955 Pacific Highway, in San Diego, California, and has been providing service and technical assistance for more than 20 years. The outlet is the exclusive Vespa dealer for the whole of San Diego County, and the largest scooter showroom on the West Coast. It is also an important reference in North America for spare parts for vintage and new Vespa models (and the team of mechanics specialises in restoration and customisation projects).
INFO: www.vespamotorsport.com
VESPA SIDECAR ON FOX TV
The Vespa Motosport team has a strong spirit of initiative. For example, Kevin Stram appeared on America’s FOX TV channel, in a report on the opening of the International San Diego Auto Show; Kevin rode through the showroom on a splendid vintage Vespa with sidecar, with the reporter perched inside.
Kevin Stram, Vespa Motosport
YOU AND YOUR VESPA
ON WIDE!
Every Vespa scooter, whatever its age, whatever the model, is a cult object, a collector’s item to be treasured, cared for and kept for years after any other vehicle would have finished its working life. The new WIDE feature “My Vespa Movie” is dedicated to everyone who rides off to work on a brand new Vespa every morning, to everyone who fondly conserves a Vespa handed down in the family from generation to generation, to everyone who lovingly cherishes a vintage Vespa.
MAKE YOUR
VESPA MOVIE!
Make a short video with your Vespa to tell us what the Vespa name means to you. You can tell the story of your scooter or recount a trip you’ve made together. You can include shots of daily life, or evoke the emotions you have shared.
The videos we select will appear on Wide, in the new feature “My Vespa Movie”, to present you and your Vespa, the most special scooter in the world, to Vespa devotees all over the globe. Because every Vespa story is unique.
