HISTORY TECH
A GREAT CHAPTER IN ITALIAN HISTORY
Piaggio boasts a long-standing history in Italian industry and mobility. Back in 1882, Enrico Piaggio opened a factory for the production of naval supplies. This was followed, two years later, by the founding of Piaggio C by Rinaldo Piaggio, engaged from 1889 in the railways sector.
The company made its début in the aeronautical field in 1916, and after a series of ups and downs, finally approached the world of two-wheeled vehicles. In 1964 the aeronautical (I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio) and motorcycle (Piaggio C.) divisions split to become two independent companies, with the latter paving the way for the birth of Italian mobility, in the wake of the economic boom enjoyed in those years.
As from the 1960s, Piaggio began to churn out a series of highly successful products.
Ciao, the forefather of the modern moped, was born in 1967.
Between 1990 and 1994, Piaggio turned out the Sfera, the first scooter to feature a plastic bodywork, followed by Hexagon, a milestone in the maxi-scooter segment. Between 1973 and 1988, the Bravo moped was a big hit, and a series of new vehicles were introduced, such as Cosa, Superbravo and Grillo.
Born as a 50cc moped in 1997 and instantly carving out a place for itself on the market as a highly innovative product, Liberty soon become one of the most popular high-wheeled scooters around: the credit goes to its young and dynamic line, excellent build quality, and competitive price. A distinctive feature for its category is a great attention to detail.
The year 2001 saw the début of Beverly, an extraordinarily agile, reliable and safe scooter that revolutionized the market, quickly becoming the absolute leader in terms of sales in the competitive and prestigious high wheel sector. The following year, it was completely overhauled in style and technology, flaunting a new elegant and distinctive look and offering top-rate equipment and finishings, as always with the guarantee of top safety and performance.
In 2012, the range of best-selling Piaggio high-wheeled scooters was enriched with a new model – the Beverly SportTouring, fitted with a new 350cc engine (as compact as 300cc but with the performance of 400cc) – that interprets the class and elegance of Beverly in a sports version. The newborn is the first scooter in the world to be equipped with ABS/ASR, to exploit the vehicle’s maximum performance in complete safety.
The Piaggio Mp3 is a tilting three-wheeled scooter offering safety, road grip and a stability unattainable with a two-wheeled vehicle, combined with considerable power and agility, making for pure fun and maximum driving pleasure. These winning features have earned the Mp3 enormous success since its launch in 2006. The use of three wheels, two of which at the front, was a revolutionary technical intuition that has led to a truly unique scooter and has redefined the very concept of dynamic stability. This winning formula has led to the proliferation of versions over the years, to meet the needs of the most extensive customer base, culminating in the Mp3 Hybrid, the first scooter in the world with a parallel hybrid drive and plug-in technology, and the Mp3 Yourban, which offers a more urban and casual use of the excellent stability and safety features of the Mp3
The year 2007 saw the launch of the Piaggio HyS (Hybrid Scooter), the prototype of hybrid drive set to revolutionise urban mobility. Available in three different prototypes, based on the models Vespa LX, X8 and MP3, the Piaggio Hybrid Scooter combines a conventional internal combustion engine with low environmental impact with a zero-emission electric motor.
In 2012, the new Piaggio X10 – available with three modern engines (125, 350 and 500) to meet the most diverse commuting needs – made travel an everyday luxury, bringing Piaggio back with a splash in the Gran Turismo segment. The X10 – an authentic flagship on two wheels, dedicated to those who want maximum comfort and all-Italian elegance – offers modern, sleek and attractive lines, designed in a wind tunnel, combined with a wealth of equipment and top notch performance.
- Piaggio MP3 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Piaggio Beverly 125cc-300cc Scooter Scooters Mopeds
- 2010 Piaggo Vespa Scooters: New models, hybrid coming
- Piaggio Fly 50 & 150 Motor Scooter Guide
- Piaggio MP3 Yourban 300 LT Auto Express
