[JayPrashanth]

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Consolidating its image as a manufacturer of lifestyle automatic scooter offerings, Piaggio India has lined up the Vespa 946 for the Indian market. Due for a Q4 launch, the Vespa 946 is expected to hit Indian roads by March 2014, with an Auto Expo 2014 unveiling likely. Here's official word from Mr Ravi Chopra, the Managing Director of Piaggio India, who spoke to BusinessStandard about the Vespa 946.

The product is undergoing the homologation process under ARAI and this may take at least 3-4 months. Hopefully, it will be available from the fourth quarter of the current financial year.

The Vespa 946 made its international debut at EICMA 2012 in Milan, Italy. The Vespa 946 is the production version of the Quarantasei concept that Piaggio showcased a couple of years ago, at EICMA 2011. In production guise, the Vespa 946 gets a 125cc-3 valve four stroke engine that is mated to a CVT transmission. The engine, similar to the motor found on the likes of the Vespa LX125 and VX125 models, gets fuel injection.

In fuel injected guise, the 125cc engine of the Vespa 946 outputs 11.6 Bhp of peak power and 10.6 Nm of peak torque. A more powerful 150cc engine that churns out 13 Bhp-11.7 Nm is also available for the scooter. The Vespa 946 continues to use the monocoque frame that's also found on the likes of the Vespa VX and LX models. Single side monoshock suspension up front and at the rear, and 12 inch wheels are standard.

The styling is retro-modern and the scooter gets twin disc brakes, ABS and traction control as standard safety equipment. Pre-ordering of the Vespa 946 has begun in Europe, where the scooter has gone on sale for a hefty 9,000 Euros (about 7 lakh Indian rupees). Given that Piaggio scooters sold in India are priced at a fourth of their European prices, the Vespa 946 could still be quite expensive at over 1.5 lakh rupees.

(As a reference point, the Piaggio Vespa LX125 with a front disc brake is priced at 3,221 GBP or 2.92 lakh Indian rupees. The Vespa VX125, equivalent to the UK-spec LX125 is priced at 71,000 Indian rupees, a fourth of the LX125's UK price.)

So, it remains to be seen whether a price tag close to the 1.5 lakh rupee mark for the Vespa 946 would actually work in India. Across the world, the Vespa 946 is positioned as a halo model, commanding a steep premium over other Vespa automatic scooters. In that light, the positioning of the Vespa 946 in India might not be any different with respect to the scooter's positioning internationally.



Later this year, Piaggio India plans to launch a sporty version of the Vespa LX/VX series. A rumour originating on BikeIndia suggests that the Italian scooter maker has lined up the Vespa S for India. Featuring the same 125cc four stroke engine as the LX and VX models, the Vespa S comes with a square headlamp and sporty suspension bits. Pricing is said to be similar to that of the Vespa VX125, with a September 2013 launch likely.

[Ikoner_03]

I dont think this would work in India, a lakh and above for a 125 cc scooter!!Speaking of a 150 CC scooter, wish the Blaze was re-introduced. Give it fuel injection and voila!!

[MHG]

When I read the news, I assumed Piaggio was launching a 946cc version of the Vespa in India and thought they had finally started redeeming themselves. This 125cc scooter with fuel injection priced close to bikes with over 2x the horse power, 3x the comfort and 4x the fun seems ridiculous to say the least.

[gsurya]

Scooters are truly unisex unlike bikes, cant compare the two. There is a big market for many 40+ yuppies who are uncomfortable on bikes who just want to travel around city elegantly, a scooter is perfect for that.

The only downside is our ridiculous roads with potholes which make scooters unsafe compared to bikes.

I think like premium hatchbacks were scoffed at 5 yrs ago... we are making a mistake of writing off Vespa strategy here.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by JayPrashanth

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in Europe, where the scooter has gone on sale for a hefty 9,000 Euros (about 7 lakh Indian rupees). Given that Piaggio scooters sold in India are priced at a fourth of their European prices, the Vespa 946 could still be quite expensive at over 1.5 lakh rupees.

(As a reference point, the Piaggio Vespa LX125 with a front disc brake is priced at 3,221 GBP or 2.92 lakh Indian rupees. The Vespa VX125, equivalent to the UK-spec LX125 is priced at 71,000 Indian rupees, a fourth of the LX125's UK price.)

Now that's some news. Can't even imagine in the whole world such a disparity of pricing. 3 lakhs for a Vespa?? And here we are getting for under 80k.!!!

Instead of looking at USA and Middle east and crying foul for pricing, this fact and the thread, 'Imports across the border in Bangladesh' makes me say that under 10 lakhs, we have pretty good priced choice of wheels.

[Mohitkumaar]

The price of 150,000 is going to be the bane here. Not many will spend that much on scooter considering Indian psyche, bikes for this price sell because they are babied down versions of superbikes, so wannabe market is not going to check this scooter.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Visited Vespa showroom today to check out the VX 125. SA mentioned 946 will be a CBU and priced very high. Also, it seems prices for the range has gone up again and the VX is 86k on-road Bangalore.

Any confirmation on the newer models from Vespa? We have another scooter in the garage, hence don't mind waiting a bit more for something better. Would like to pick up the 946 if the price is around 1.5L OTR for the 150cc.

Sadly, we don't have any proper premium scooters in the market.

[ku69rd]

150K for a scooter with a 125/150 CC engine will be too much to ask for even a premium customer. Vespa should make it interesting by putting in a bigger capacity engine with a bit more power. Else this will get written off/also ran model.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

150K for a scooter with a 125/150 CC engine will be too much to ask for even a premium customer. Vespa should make it interesting by putting in a bigger capacity engine with a bit more power. Else this will get written off/also ran model.

They are happily running their business with a 125cc scooter which retails at 80k OTR (Bangalore) and does not even come with disc brakes/ tubeless tyres for that price.

Suzuki Swish is just as good, if not better than the wasp. Still people pay this premium, not for the specs, but the looks and exclusivity. Nothing else in the scooter market can be called 'premium'. On any other scooter- you'll be a commuter, but the wasp makes the rider a modern hippie.

I'd say- 150k OTR would be the absolute limit for an exclusive 150.

[dhaval-mehta]

It's not that bad a deal. Vespa's played it smart on this one. The 946 has done good in Europe, has ABS and traction control with discs, I am not sure if it is fuel injected but the way they have designed the scooter and the hanging backseat thing, there'll still be lots of takers at 1.5lakhs otr.