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Piaggio unveiled the Vespa scooter at the 2012 Auto Expo. The company has also showcased the MP3 Hybrid. This is not the first time Vespa has been unveiled in India, as the company had showcased the iconic scooters at the 2011 Autocar Performance Show. The Vespa was invented in 1946 and is the world’s first scooter. Currently its sold in more than 100 countries and there are more than 17 million units on the road. Piaggio will position the Vespa as a lifestyle brand and will open a Vespa Club for India. The Vespa will be produced at Baramati and has an initial capacity of 1.5 lakh units per annum. It will go on sale in April 2012 in 35 cities in the country.
Piaggio also showcased the MP3 Hybrid scooter. The MP3 name is an acronym of Moto Piaggio a 3 route, which is Italian for Piaggio motorcycle with 3 wheels. It uses a 278cc hybrid powertrain which produces a power of 25 HP at 7500 RPM and torque of 27.5 Nm at 3500 RPM. The MP3 Hybrid is a zero emissions electric motor and is the first vehicle in the entire automotive sector to use lithium-ion batteries. The MP3 Hybrid reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 50%. It uses a single electrical magnet motor for a parallel hybrid drive. Piaggio has no plans to launch the MP3 in India anytime in the near future.
The company also showcased Vespa accessories and the new Ape City paxx which will be powered by a new 200cc engine which is under development. The Ape City paxx will be launched in July 2012.
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