Vespa 946 Production Model Confirmed for North America
Piaggio confirmed it will be importing the production version of its Vespa 946 (a.k.a. the “Quarantasei“) to North America, representing the next generation of scooters from the iconic Italian brand. The 946 was presented alongside the Aprilia Caponord 1200 and Moto Guzzi California 1400 at Piaggio’s North American dealer meeting last week in Miami. No dates were announced for the Vespa 946 but odds are it will arrive on these shores in late 2012 as a 2013 models alongside the Caponord and new California.
The Vespa 946 was first unveiled at the 2011 EICMA show as the Quarantasei concept model. “Quarantasei” is Italian for 46, which represents the year 1946 when Vespa first began producing scooters, but the design represents more about Vespa’s future than it does the past.
The 946 maintains Vespa’s signature design elements while adding futuristic style elements from its metallic paint, hanging seat and swooping lines.
The technology is also next-generation, with a new Single cylinder three-valve engine. The air-cooled and fuel-injected engine was designed to offer good fuel economy and fewer air and sound emissions.
Piaggio plans to produce the 946 with a choice of a 125cc or 150cc engines. The 125cc engine claims a maximum output of 11.7 hp at 8250 rpm and 7.6 ft-lb. at 7000 rpm. The 150cc version claims 13.0 hp at 8000 rpm and 9.3 ft-lb. at 6500 rpm.