Thursday, May 16, 2013
Vespa 946 2013
Vepsa’s big news at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan sources inspiration from his post-war origins. The Italian marque has revealed the Vespa 946 scooter, with the swoopy new scoot taking its name and some styling cues from the company’s 1946 Mp6 prototype. The 946 features a newly designed engine and bodywork intended to improve fuel economy, performance and meet stringent Euro3 emissions standards.
An air-cooled 125cc four-stroke Single powers the 946. The new engine was designed and built at the Pontedera plant in Italy,. The three-valve Single promises improved intake, with two valves dedicated to the task, and is coupled with an electronic injection set-up. The new engine puts out a claimed 7.6 lb-ft of torque at 7000 rpm and provides 11.7 hp at 8250 rpm, which Vespa cites as a 7.1% increase in power and a 10.3% improvement in torque as compared to earlier generation engines.
Big news for the 946 is traction control, which makes its debut on a Vespa scooter design. While details are not listed, the ASR traction control system is said to prevent rear wheel slippage for optimal traction. TC technology has been prominently displayed on the Piaggio Group’s other offerings, most notably in the Aprilia line.
Vespa utilizes its familiar monocoque body structure. The 946 makes use of welded steel and aluminum alloy to support the internals while reducing overall weight. The 946’s single shock absorber on the rear wheel has been mounted horizontally to avoid disrupting the aesthetics of the machine, and comes with four-position adjustable preload. It comes with 12-inch wheels on the front and back, complete with a double-disc braking system and ABS. The 946 also comes with LED headlights and dashboard indicators.
The 946’s styling is sourced from Vespa’s original MP6 prototype developed in 1946, hence the 946 in the name. The styling is touted as bridging the gap between Vespa’s “large body,” (GTS and GTV models) and “small body” offerings (LX and S models).
via: motorcycle-usa.com
