The Vespa was conceived with the rider as its technical and stylistic focus, and with every detail reflecting its aeronautical origins. It was a unique project, light years ahead of its time and its world, a project where form was truly at the service of functionality.
Today, the Vespa 946 represents the archetypal Vespa of the new generations, a splendid example of continuous re-invention in a process of constant evolution.
Style: Re-inventing the future
The legendary Vespa line has gone down in the history of design. A few brilliant pen-strokes generated one of the symbols of Italian creativity and launched a never-ending story of extraordinary success. A modern epic of pleasure and the freedom to travel, in unmistakeable style, down any road in the world.
Visually, the 946 recalls the flair and inventiveness that generated the original idea for the Vespa. Behind the stunning lines of the first scooter with a monocoque frame, today there is advanced technology, developed in the pursuit of user- and eco-friendliness. Like the MP6 prototype from which it takes its inspiration, the Vespa 946 is a direct creation of the best contemporary technology. The dynamic model of the start of a new age.
The completely naked back of the Vespa 946 is accentuated by the bold elegance of the suspended saddle. Only a sophisticated aluminium casting could provide the necessary support and ensure the aesthetic lightness of touch. The Vespa 946 is the result of this constant interplay between the designer’s drawing board and technological expertise in the use of production materials.
As ever in the story of the Vespa, the frame is a steel body – enhanced with aluminium elements, notably the mudguard and the side panels – which also acts as a bearing structure, housing the engine, the transmission and all the mechanical parts.
Construction excellence and materials of the highest quality set the Vespa 946 apart from every other two-wheeler in the world. The use of aluminium is a contributing factor in the realisation of an aesthetically stunning object and helps reduce the vehicle’s overall weight, thereby raising energy efficiency.
The Vespa 946 distills the essence of the Vespa scooters that have preceded it over the years, admirably combining the best features of the various Vespa families. The wheelbase, longer than that of the great GTS, confirms this is an important and stable vehicle. But the lightweight line and steering angle similar to the small-body LX ensure exceptional agility.
The all-aluminium front mudguard provides a classically elegant cover for the 12” wheel. The rear wheel is also 12”. The modular aluminium alloy rims, whose gills are a reference to the historic drum brake mounted on the first Vespas, are the largest ever fitted on a Vespa scooter, further enhancing the 946. The dual-disk braking system is designed for maximum safety, and completed by a two-channel ABS governed by a control unit with special software.
A technical gem
The front suspension of the Vespa 946 employs the traditional wishbone suspension arm, a distinguishing feature of the Vespa from the very first model, while an innovative solution has been developed for the rear. For the first time in the history of this scooter, the rear suspension consists of a gas-filled shock absorber with five-position adjustable preloading, mounted horizontally with a sophisticated progressive rebound system. This made it possible to achieve the pure, ethereal look of the Vespa 946 rear.
The lights are another distinguishing feature of the Vespa 946. The headlamp uses full LED technology and is fitted with a heat dissipation system. The tail light and the smart blinker lights – recessed into the body so as not to spoil the line of the scooter – are also full LED, as is the technologically stylish multifunctional instrument panel.
The Vespa 946 offers the innovative ASR electronic traction control system to prevent the rear wheel from sliding due to loss of traction. An exclusive technological advance of the Piaggio Group, implemented for the first on the Vespa.
A contemporary eco-sustainable heart
The pulsating heart of the Vespa 946 is a state-of-the-art engine heralding the development lines for tomorrow’s engines: lower fuel consumption and a sharp reduction in acoustic and exhaust emissions. The 4-stroke, 3-valve, 125 cc monocylinder air-cooled engine with electronic fuel injection is the cutting edge of Piaggio Group scooter engine technology.
To enhance engine performance and simultaneously lower fuel consumption and emissions, a detailed study was conducted to reduce friction and improve the fluid dynamics.
The innovative 3-valve timing system on the Vespa 946 engine optimises the in-cylinder swirl and tumble motion and the position of the spark plug, to improve the efficiency of the combustion process and ensure maximum cooling inside the cylinder head.
Bearings have been used for all moving parts to minimise friction: the roller rocker arms make for silent operation and better mechanical efficiency, the camshaft, like the final drive unit, is on bearings.
In the search for the best performance/consumption ratio, 3-valve timing is the most effective solution, since it improves intake, delivering greater engine efficiency with respect to conventional 2-valve models.
The cooling system was carefully studied to enhance performance, and secure a significant reduction in noise and power absorption.
The injection system is cutting edge in terms of functionality and rideability, with automatic idling control and closed-loop fuel mixture management with a lambda probe. The 3-dimensional advance, titre and injection timing maps are managed by a latest-generation control unit. Together with the three-way catalytic converter, this guarantees full compliance with Euro3 regulations and anticipates increasingly stringent future regulations governing reduction of polluting emissions.
Performance in terms of shaft horsepower (8.5 kW at 8,750 rpm) and torque (9.6 Nm at 7,750 rpm) put the new 125 3V Vespa 946 engine at the top of its class.
Alongside these superior performance levels, excellent results have also been achieved in terms of fuel consumption: the Vespa 946 offers a range of up to 50 km on a litre of petrol. Vehicle services, now scheduled at 10,000 km, keep running costs for the new 3V engine very low.