Note, there is an updated version of this article here.
Is the Vespa PX going to be saved by a new 4-stroke engine from Piaggio?
It\’s silly season coming up to the main international motorcycles of Intermot (Koln) and EICMA (Milan) and the rumours begin here.
First up, from an Italian source, are rumours that the Vespa PX may not be completely killed by Euro 4 as we reported here. Piaggio were apparently planning to show a new 4-stroke version of their venerable Vespa. According to the story, this was due to appear not at Intermot in October, but on Italian soil at EICMA. The same source suggests however, that this will not be ready as a 2017 model, but its sale will be postponed until 2018.
Will it be at EICMA 2016 or isn\’t it ready for display yet? We hear of Piaggio dealers getting very excited about that show, so we expect something interesting is afoot..
The question is: if Piaggio are making a 4-stroke motor for the PX, will it still have a manual gearbox or will it be an automatic in a different format? My money is on it retaining handlebar gearshift, though whether that is real gears or artificial steps on a belt-driven variator is still to be decided. Certainly, Piaggio have both technical options open to them and have discussed both options.
On another point, will the performance improve? To my mind they should be able to make an air-cooled Euro-4 4-stroke 125 that goes better than a strangled 2-stroke version.
As for a larger capacity version, will they stop at 200cc or go for something bigger? With current licensing options there\’s no point in stopping at 200, but can they fit anything bigger under the side-panels?
At the same show in Milan, new Lambretta have also booked a stand, as have Scomadi. It could turn out to be a right royal bun-fight for the retro scooter market once all the competitors are on equal 4-stroke footing…
As for LML – who already built a 4-stroke engine for their PX-style Star – they don\’t seem to be on the exhibitor\’s list for EICMA at all. (correction, listed under Valentino Spa.). It is still unclear what their 3-month factory shut-down means for future scooter production. We\’ll find out in Italy.
Sticky
OOhhhhh, i hope this is true. and it would be fun if it’s geared and has a bigger engine
4T side mount engines have been available for either manual or auto transmissions for awhile now.
It has already been reported the LML 2T engine would be discontinued in the UK, if Piaggio/Vespa make their own version under their own license – what will the impact be to LML / Stella (in the USA) ?
The sidemount 4-stroke engines by LML don’t fit straight into a genuine Vespa PX chassis. The LML chassis is externally visually similar but many differences exist underneath. I reckon it’s a safe bet that whatever Piaggio do will be their own engine design and not from LML. At the moment LML are not manufacturing any scooters as the factory is closed for restructuring. If they have not made the investment to get their models ready for Euro-4 then they will not have anything to sell in Europe at all from next year. Some rumours are that LML plan to concentrate instead on the Indian 3-wheeler market rather than export. We’ll see.
Yeah, I’ve been hearing about this 4-stroke PX since at least 2011 (just google “PX 4 stroke”)… I’ll believe it when I see it.
So have we, but Euro 4 is the signal that marks the end of the PX 2-stroke, so if Piaggio want to continue with a side-engine scooter then 4-stroke is the only choice. Like the story says though, it could be a 2018 model launched in 2017. That would give time to clear all the old Euro-3 stock.
What I’m questioning is Piaggio’s enthusiasm about a 4-stroke PX and their commitment to actually build it…
We’ll see how it pans out.
Piaggio’s enthusiasm about a 4-stroke PX and their commitment to actually build it are nil. It’s not going to happen. Because that would actually be a wise financial decision (such a scooter would sell like hotcakes in this day and age) and that would tarnish the famous Italian reputation of poor strategic management.
It would be far more simple to produce a DI 2 stroke version. Piaggio already make a 50cc motor so they have the technology.
It would, and I wish they’d do it, but Piaggio’ve always told us that market response to D.I was poor after reliability problems people found with the Aprilia Ditech ruined the reputation of Orbital tech on scooters.
Nothing emerged at EICMA did it?
Just think how much the injected, catalysed, linked brake/ABS bullshit will add to the cost of such a machine.
Now Euro 4 has seen off LML, the niche market competition is gone. Piaggio do not need to produce this Unicorn. They have produced millions of geared scoots already, enough to supply the ever decreasing pool of geared enthusiasts until they/we all ride off into the eternal sunset.
Holy Grail questers and Lourdes miracle seekers would have better luck!
Now a Vespa Rally shaped hover scooter would be nice…