Photo: Times of India

Over the years, the Pope has been driven around in quite a few different vehicles, which most people refer to as the 'Popemobile.' The last time the Pope visited the United States, for instance, his ride was a modified Mercedes-Benz M Class SUV which had been specially modified to accommodate his needs. In fact, Mercedes-Benz has a long history of creating vehicles specially for the Pope, and now Piaggio has joined in as well. Piaggio's contribution, though, features just three wheels and is made from the rickshaw platform which is popular in India, where the vehicle was created.

According to Ravi Chopra from Piaggio's Indian subsidiary, "These vehicles were given a complete look and feel of a Popemobile by putting a white coloured hood, white tyres, seat upholstery, and white body paint. The insignia on the doors is specially handcrafted. The entire vehicle was given a complete unique decor to suit the aura of His Holiness." Piaggio hopes that Pope Benedict XVI can find a use for the vehicle at the Vatican, perhaps when touring the gardens.

[Source: Times of India]

Earlier this month, we learned about the "No Age Limit" adventure of Bob and Buddy, two old scooter riders who wanted to see the America of the Lincoln Highway using Piaggio MP3 scooters. The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the U.S. and was conceived and completed in the early part of the last century. While the road is historic, Piaggio is using more up-to-date technology to provide web visitors to check in on the two men.

Daily updates can be seen on this website, which now includes a slick Google Earth feature that shows today's location for the seventy-something riders. There are also a lot of pictures updated to a Google PhotoMap and there is a Google ProgressMap that gives multiple updates throughout the day - just in case you wanted to head out and ride along with them perhaps. If constant web-based updates aren't your thing, then feel free to wait for the PBS documentary on the Highway to Harley riders, which will feature Bob and Buddy.

[Source: Piaggio Group USA]

Click above for more images of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

Two seventy-something year old men will soon be embarking on a 3,400 mile trip across the U.S. on the famed Lincoln Highway. The trip for Bob Chase and Bernard "Buddy" Rosenbaum will start on June 13 at San Francisco's Lincoln Park and hit fourteen different states before they end on July 14 at the Lincoln Highway's eastern end-point in New York City's Times Square. The vehicle of choice for the journey is the Piaggio MP3 500, which we recently tested in New York and found to be extremely competent. The projected fuel mileage for the trip is about 55 miles per gallon. Just so long as they obey the speed limit most of the way and don't test the ninety-plus mile per hour top speed too often, they should have little problem hitting that figure. In addition to the excellent fuel mileage, this scooter was chosen for its stability and excellent handling. We certainly wish the duo the best on their trip and look forward to following their travels.

Sebastian is joined by Jeremy for AutoblogGreen Podcast #23, since Sam was hanging out with Bob Lutz and his Vectrix scooter when we recorded. Jeremy recounts his experience with Piaggio MP3 scooters on a ride from New York to Connecticut, and we move on to talk about the limited Prius supply as of late. We also touch on some developments at GM: the impending doom that may befall Hummer, and the coming of the Volt, which GM wants to build in Detroit. We go on for a while about hybrids and EVs for a while before wrapping up. Thanks for listening, we'll see you soon!

SUBSCRIBE to the AutoblogGreen Podcast in iTunes
LISTEN to the show now
ADD the AutoblogGreen Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Click above for high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

While we were in New York testing out the latest versions of the Piaggio MP3, we got a chance to sit down with some of the men behind the three-wheeled machine. Our first question was when we might see the hybrid version of the revolutionary leaning machine. While the official date is still shrouded in mystery, we were assured that it is coming, maybe even before the end of the year. Bloomberg is reporting, though, that there could be hybrid Piaggios with an even higher wheel count, as the Italian scooter giant is said to be working on a hybrid four-wheeler.

Not unlike domestic manufacturers based in the U.S., Piaggio is facing an ever-diminishing market share in its home country. Emerging markets, though, are proving to be a boon for both the automotive and motorcycle markets. As companies battle it out to win over consumers, fuel efficiency is going to become an increasingly hot commodity.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

Piaggio's unique MP3 scooter, with its two wheels in front and one in back, has been turning heads since its introduction as a 250cc model a few years ago. After getting the chance to ride the latest 400cc and 500cc versions, we can confirm that it still causes its fair share of rubber-neckers. As automotive drivers, we wondered if Piaggio's entry into the growing maxi-scooter segment could be a viable car alternative for some consumers, and as motorcycle riders, we wondered how those two-front wheels would feel as we chucked it into some bendy-roads. We found all we wanted to know and more after two days worth of driving through both downtown New York City and the surrounding rural roadways all the way into Connecticut. Read on past the jump to see what we thought.

Click on the image to enlarge

When Piaggio is mentioned on these pages, it's usually in reference to one of their scooters, but they also offer a range of utilitarian four-wheeled vehicles. The newest addition to their range is an electric delivery vehicle which features a refrigeration unit that is also electrically powered, making for a completely emissions free vehicle. The Porter Electric features two sets of batteries, both of which are charged at the same time from either a standard outlet or quick-charged through a three-phase power supply. The emissions-free status qualifies the vehicle as exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty charges along with Congestion Charging in London.

Along with their new Porter Electric, Piaggio will be introducing a new small truck to the UK market called the Truk. Featuring a small 500cc diesel engine, the Truk is expected to be priced rather attractively and have very low emissions and high fuel mileage.

Both press releases are posted after the break for your reading enjoyment.

Italy is a bastion for cool old scooter finds, as classic manufacturers such as Piaggio, Vespa and Lambretta were born and bred there. These classic scooters include striking and beautiful design aesthetics as well as solid construction methods. Also in their favor are decades of sentimental value, which is hard to put a price on. Unfortunately, most of these scooters also have a dark side, and it has to do with emissions. While they are quite thrifty when it comes to fuel consumption, the vast majority of the older scooters on Italian roadways are powered by 2-stroke engines, which emit much more harmful pollutants than newer 4-stroke models. Also, when many of those scooters were manufactured, emissions laws did not yet exist, meaning there is nothing in between the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe than a straight tube ... catalytic what? To help alleviate some of these pollution generators, the Italian government has decided to offer a 300 Euro bonus to trade in your old scooter for a new model. The hope is that pollution levels will decrease as the older fleet of scooters currently on the road is replaced with a new, cleaner one. Scooter fans the world over collectively shed a tear.

[Source: Forbes via 2 Stroke Buzz]

A few years ago, Bajaj stopped making their Chetak and Legend scooters, and since then there has been a dinstinct lack of any steel-bodied, manual transmission, 4-stroke scooters on the market. Genuine Scooters has begun selling their Stella scooter again after a short absence and Vespa themselves re-released 500 of the PX150 model to the American market, but both of those machines feature 2-stroke engines. Bajaj made some pretty compelling claims regarding the emissions improvement of their 4-stroke engine as compared to the original 2-stroke powerplants like those used in the Stella and PX150, so scooter riders who feel the need to ride "green" machines have been forced to scour the used market or buy a newer "twist and go" style model. There are a few rumors circulating, though, which could change all of that. The Stella scooter is made in India by a company called LML, and that same company may begin creating four-stroke, steel-bodied scooters using an as yet unnamed 4-stroke motor ranging from 125cc, 150cc and even 250cc versions.

If LML does start making 4-stroke Vespa PX clones, we can foresee a huge market for them in the States. We would love to see Genuine Scooters offer these models alongside their current range of Stella scooters, keeping the vintage designs in dealer showrooms for years to come.

[Source: 2-Stroke Buzz]

Many taxi drivers have made the switch to hybrid power because of reduced cost in fuel and for the promised environmental improvement, but as far as we know, there is only one taxi service using Piaggio MP3 scooters to lug passengers and their cargo around. The service is known as NIP Bike and is available only in Paris at this time. Whether or not the company has plans to branch out into other areas we don't know. The service might only be able to accept one passenger at a time, but the luggage capacity is pretty stout with both side cases and a 42 liter Piaggio top case available.

Tom Tom provides navigation advice to the driver, meaning that a direct route to the final destination should always be taken. The rider and passenger can speak to each other using bluetooth equipped helmets from Nolan. Would you be willing to take a taxi service on the back of a scooter?

[Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane]

Piaggio, the scooter maker best known for making Vespa, will be the first to sell electric vehicles in Isreal, in just one month. According to Ha'aretz, the electric vehicles will be Piaggio's Porter brand, small multipurpose vans (MPV) which come in five types, including models with payload tippers. The vans have 12 or 14 horsepower engines, a top speed of 36 MPH and 155-mile range on a full charge, which takes about two hours from a normal home outlet. The van will cost 120,000 Israeli Shekels ($33,018 US dollars).

Why is Paggio doing this now? Israel recently instated a "green tax" on cars hoping to develop their electric car market. A Paggio company spokesman says they have won approval "in principle" for the tax breaks on the purchase price of cars. Project Better Place and Renault were the first companies to come out in support of Israel's push for electric cars but it's open to any green car maker. I fully expect many more automakers to sign up just like they did with Thailand's government program to make green cars.

Related:

• Israel considering making electric vehicles completely tax free
• Israeli government passes "green tax" on cars
• It's official! Project Better Place, Renault signs deal to bring electric cars to Israel
• Piaggio's MP3 family grows with 500 and 400 models
• Piaggio launches a three and four-wheeled offensive, with diesel and CNG engines

[Source: Ha'aretz, Infolive.tv]

Piaggio has officially unveiled two new Maxi Scooters to add to its American three-wheeled MP3 family: the 2008 MP3 500 and MP3 400 models (those numbers describe the scooters' ccs) The Italian company has upped the engine size of these scooters for the U.S. market, something we've been keeping an eye on since last September. The previous engine size was 250 cc. Piaggio says that "the higher-displacement MP3 500 and 400 offer riders the added benefit of high-performance four-stroke engines, aggressive styling and a new level of premium safety, comfort and convenience equipment. Designed to go the distance, the newest MP3 models are uniquely suited to enjoying the diverse terrain of America's highways and byways." Not sure I'd want to drive from Maine to Oregon on one of these, but I take their point. The good news for scooter enthusiasts is that the 500 is a bit cheaper than previously rumored. It's not $10,000, but $8,899. The 400's MSRP is $8,699. For more details, check out the Piaggio release after the jump.


[Source: Piaggio]

Usually when we mention Piaggio on these pages, it has to do with their popular line of scooters. This time, though, we are focusing on their three and four-wheeled line of utility vehicles. The popular Ape model and the rest of the three-wheeled variants that Piaggio offers in India are getting an optional CNG engine. Calling it a "benchmark in eco-friendly transportation", Ravi Chopra, chairman and managing director of Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd, said, "In cargo industry we have a significant market share of 44 percent as we are the pioneers of the three-wheeler category in the world. The launch of CNG version of the ape will help us to fulfill our commitment to provide eco-friendly, efficient and powerful three-wheelers in the country."

Additionally, Chopra said, "One has to grow the platform (of four-wheelers). In the next two years we should be able to introduce variants of the sub-one-tonne truck ... The vision is to create another platform beyond the sub-one-tonne but less than two tonnes by 2010." It sounds like Piaggio has goals of becoming a major player in the light-utility market so popular in India.

Lastly, Piaggio is planning to start making their own diesel engines for use in their three and four-wheelers. "We are creating the facility with a capacity of 200,000 engines. The progress is on schedule," says Chopra. That should make for an interesting mix of choices, with gasoline, CNG and diesel engines being available in three and four-wheeled passenger and utility models. Too bad we don't get any of 'em here. Well, except for these, but only in gas versions.

[Source: Piaggio, various]

Well, well, well... it appears as if the rumor about the Piaggio MP3 getting a larger engine for the U.S. market might just be a reality. In fact, it's even better than even the die-hard scooter fanatics could have hoped for. Not only is the MP3 getting the long-rumored 400cc engine here in the States, we are also getting an MP3-500! The 500cc equipped machine will differ from the other MP3's though. The Gilera Fuoco 500ie, which is a brand not sold at all in America, is being brought over almost exactly as-is, except with another badge on its flanks.

As a refresher, the Piaggio MP3 is a leaning three-wheeled scooter which is currently available for sale. Currently a 250cc engine powers the scooter and the 400cc version should be in showrooms soon. Rumor has it that the MP3 500 should go for around $10,000. That is pretty expensive, but as Steve from The Scooter Scoop says: hotness has a price!

The last piece of good scooter news is that the new Vespa S might come stateside as well. I know some people have been waiting for that announcement too!

[Source: The Scooter Scoop]

UPDATE: cc numbers corrected.

Today we bring news which does not register very far up on our green meter, but we'll fit it in nonetheless. Piaggio has recently made headlines on our site by indicating that they might offer up their hybrid scooters in the U.S. in a few years time. Now, they go and partially undo that good news with this, the Gilera GP800. Now, I am not saying that the scooter is a bad product, what I am saying is that I wish that the push for ever larger engines in scooters would come to an end. Don't get me wrong, I love scooters. But, I personally think that the scooter market is better served with machines which focus on frugality rather than outright speed. A 500cc engine with a CVT transmission is plenty large enough to get well ahead of traffic when the light turns green, and can cruise comfortably above any speed limit in America or (Autobahn aside) the rest of the world. So, why go bigger? And, if you are gonna go bigger, why not cater to the market that really seems to want to go bigger - motorcycles. Oh well, we'll all just have to wait and see, if the GP800 indeed does go into production, how well it sells. Maybe I'm wrong and scooter riders do want bigger and more powerful.

Another interesting tidbit from another source: "Piaggio is building a version of the 3-wheel MP3/Fuoco with the 839.3cc engine and CVT plus final-chain-drive from the 850Mana/GP800 which will be sold as a Moto Guzzi." Really? That would be interesting, and there might be more of a market for the three-wheeler than the two.

[Source: The Scooter Scoop and Motoblog]