New made-in-India Aprilia motorcycle coming soon
Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL), a subsidiary of Piaggio Group, has marked the completion of 25 years in India. To celebrate this occasion, the brand has announced new product launches and updates for on-sale offerings from Vespa and Aprilia. Above all, Aprilia intends to enter a new motorcycle segment this year with an all-new motorcycle that is likely to sit below the RS 660. Meanwhile, the brand also aims to increase its production capacity in the country and boost exports to follow made-in-India for the world strategy.
2023 Vespa and Aprilia range
In order to adhere to forthcoming emission norms, Vespa and Aprilia have updated their entire scooter line-up, ranging from 125cc to 160cc, to comply with OBD-2 regulations. Notably, all Aprilia scooters also come equipped with a new i-get engine (an abbreviation for Italian Green Experience Technology) that claims to improve acceleration. Furthermore, Piaggio will launch the refreshed Vespa models with funky new colours, whereas the Aprilia SXR range will also get an update.
Diego Graffi, Chairman and MD, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd., said, "2023 will see a whole range of new two-wheelers that cater to evolved riders through high quality and performance. It gives me the pride to say that all our two-wheelers now come equipped with a technologically advanced i-get engine which is tuned to give a significant advantage in acceleration across 125 and 160cc products and is fully OBD-II compliant. As we continue to grow and pioneer India's mobility, we feel there is massive potential for bringing in more of Piaggio's global favourites to India."
New Vespa products
Piaggio has announced that it will launch a bunch of new products in the Indian market this year. To begin with, Vespa will bring a new Vespa Edition scooter designed for young people. The scooter will feature vivid dual-tone paint jobs. Additionally, the two-wheeler maker will introduce a new Vespa Touring Edition. This upcoming scooter is likely to feature a windscreen, rear luggage rack, and other accessories to carry hand luggage or equipment.
New Aprilia Typhoon and made-in-India sports bike
Moreover, Aprilia will introduce a new scooter in its SR range, the Typhoon. It is also likely to be powered by the new i-get engine that complies with the OBD-2 norms. Apart from these new and updated models, Piaggio has also announced an entry to a new segment with an all-new Aprilia motorcycle. This new motorcycle will be made-in-India and exported to other countries. It is believed that the new sports bike, dubbed the RS440, will be a smaller capacity model than the current RS660 and will rival the Ninja 400 and KTM RC 390 in India.
According to media reports, the new motorcycle, dubbed the RS440, could be powered by a 400cc-to 450cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor mated to a six-speed gearbox. Notably, a prototype model of the fully camouflaged motorcycle was recently spied close to the Piaggio facility in Baramati, Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Aprilia is expected to set the stage for the world premiere of its all-new motorcycle at the forthcoming MotoGP event in India, scheduled in September 2023.