With its retro design, relaxed riding position and lively engine, the Vespa 946 is a fairly practical scooter that is perfectly suited for the requirements of the city traffic.

At the heart of the Vespa 946 sits a 155 cc, single cylinder 4 stroke engine with catalytic converter and eletronic fuel injection. It is mated to an automatic CVT transmission and delivers a maximum speed of 57 Mph (93 Km/H). The unit is fueled by a 2.2 Gallons (8.5 Liters) fuel tank and delivers an efficiency of up to 117 Mpg (Up To 50 Km / L).

The scooter’s stopping power is handled by 220 mm dual-disk brakes which are paired with a two-channel ABS.

Other features worthy of being mentioned include ASR electronic traction control, a full LCD multifunction instrument panel, 12 inch wheels and LED headlights and taillights.

Hit the jump for more information on the Vespa 946.

2014 Vespa 946

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Vespa 946
  • Engine/Motor: Single cylinder 4 stroke, with catalytic converter and eletronic fuel injection, Single overhead camshaft - 3 valve (2 intake, 1 exhaust)
  • Transmission: Automatic CVT
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Back from the future

Unique as the year in which it was born, 2013. The essentiality of the design endows even the most impersonal function with style and individuality.The Vespa 946 is a pure expression of a style synonymous, in the minds of millions of travellers and devotees, with freedom of movement and expression. A far-sighted projection of sustainable mobility, whose form and substance crystallise the fundamental aesthetic and dynamic values of the history of the two-wheeler.

Made for distinction

The Vespa 946 is made to man’s measure. And to the measure of the universe. Low consumption and reduced emissions. Fully digital instrumentation.A throbbing technological heart, perfect for long distances and city travel.Superior construction quality to make it a winner on every road, the means to reach every destination.

Eco-sustainable by vocation.

The way to guard against imitations is to look beyond the immediate future. The Vespa 946 has ABS braking and ASR traction control. The 4-stroke 125 cc monocylinder engine is a response to requirements that may still be nascent. And it guarantees the best performance in its category. Electronic injection, three-valve distribution, reduced friction and improved fluid dynamics sharply reduce consumptionand emissions, establishing a new benchmark over and beyond current regulations.

Conceived through passion

Real luxury is realising a more ambitious and fascinating dream every day. Today the Vespa 946 re-affirms its legend. It enhances the classical values of tradition: the shape of the handlebar, the proportions of the fairing, the plunging curves of the saddle all come from the earliest drawings. Every detail reflects a choice and a reference to Italian-style production. A craftsman’s approach in a futuristic dimension.

Re-evolution

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 makes its debut as the archetypal Vespa of the new generations, a splendid example of continuous re-invention in a process of constant evolution.

The Vespa 946 continues the legacy of a humanistic approach to engineering design, where man is both the author and the heart of the creative idea.

An approach to the development and subsequent production of a unique object that could only have been generated by the Italian tradition for design, technical expertise and manufacturing excellence.

So the Vespa 946 began from a blank sheet of paper with man at the centre of attention. Like Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, the human body is the key to every project, to every measurement, its proportions superbly inscribed within the perfect geometric shapes of a circle and a square.

Conceived as a precious work of Renaissance art, but produced with the leading technologies of the 21st Century, the Vespa 946 is made to measure. For man. And for the universe.

Reduced fuel consumption and emissions, all-digital instruments, a state-of-the-art beating technological heart perfectly geared to longer distances and to the metropolitan environment; all this is combined with exclusive materials in a construction process of the highest calibre, for a project that is quite simply unique and a vehicle without equal in the history of transport.

The world as a stage

Created to make an entire nation mobile, the Vespa put the whole world into a higher gear as it made its appearance on the roads of every continent, uniting young people from every culture and every background through a common passion. The first truly global mobility brand, the Vespa became a trait d'union between the generations, establishing a place for itself in the most diverse social environments, fostering specific cultural phenomena in each particular reality in which it gradually became a key player and distinguishing feature. It was at the forefront of the revolutions in social attitudes, music and among young people. It accompanied the emerging nations in their development. It accelerated their progress in times of economic prosperity. And today, at every latitude, it is one of the most popular and best-known Italian products.

Created to play a leading role in a world experiencing tumultuous change, the Vespa 946 is a highly evolved object, an expression of the digital generation that is transforming the planet.

And just like its famous progenitor, the Vespa 946 begins its journey to every corner of the planet from Tuscany, embodying the pride of an all-Italian research, development and production centre. Style, reliability, safety and respect for the environment project the Vespa 946 into the Olympus of ideas with a universal perspective.

Turning points

The story of the Vespa is a tale of continuous technical and stylistic evolution: ever since the very earliest models made their appearance, the world's most famous two-wheeler has evolved to anticipate social change. From one model to the next, the differences were sometimes minimal, sometimes more important, but they have always kept faith with the original idea that elegance, cutting-edge technology and riding pleasure should be the cornerstones of the project.

In more than sixty years, the Vespa story does, however, present a number of turning points, moments of more significant renewal. These milestones in the evolution of the Vespa would influence subsequent advances for generations.

One such milestone came in 1955 with the Vespa GS, when the Vespa discovered an aptitude for sport, a capacity for stunning performance. These were the years when rock 'n' roll was coming over from America, the age of a generation enamoured of speed, and the Vespa, always a vantage point from which to observe a changing society, interpreted their dreams and needs to perfection.

Another milestone was the Vespa PX, in 1978. As the 1970s drew to a close, the younger generations were longing to travel, to step outside their boundaries. They wanted a two-wheeler delivering enhanced performance, breaking the mould with distinctive modern lines, geared to a world that was racing towards the social and technological revolution of a decade opened by the missions of the Columbia Space Shuttle. The Vespa PX was the scooter of that age; it set the style for a number of subsequent Vespa families and spearheaded the brand's greatest commercial success, with more than three million sales.

Today, the Vespa 946 makes its debut as a new model destined to become a legend in the Vespa epic. The digital revolution is forcing the whole human race to rethink its values and reflect as it prepares to cross a line beyond which nothing will ever be the same again. The Vespa 946 is a protagonist of this rapidly changing world, reclaiming the distinguishing features of its origins to establish itself as a champion of modern life and cutting-edge style and technology.

2014 Vespa 946 Key Features:

• Tradition and innovation: Sheet steel body with aluminium parts: handlebar, saddle support, side panels, front mudguard, rear-mirror supports.

• Maximum safety: 220 mm dual-disk brake, two-channel ABS braking, ASR electronic traction control. Large 12" wheels, modular aluminium alloy wheel rims.

• Eco-sustainability and fuel economy: 125 cc 3V engine, electronic injection, best-in-class fuel consumption and emissions.

• Technology and style: LED headlight with heat dissipation system, LED tail light and indicators, full LCD multifunction instrument panel.

2014 Vespa 946 Features and Benefits:

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 MP6 prototype was conceived as a pure line, free of the constraints imposed by industrialisation, not yet conditioned by the construction decisions that would later influence the shape of the Vespa.

The concepts that inspired that limpidity of form have been reprised and enhanced thanks to the possibilities offered, almost seventy years later, by today's modern materials and advanced production processes.

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.

The monocoque frame has the magnificence of a modern piece of sculpture.

The team at the Piaggio Style Centre has performed important and innovative work on the surfaces and sections of the scooter. While remaining true to the smooth lines that every Vespa must have, they have introduced decisive elements to spread the light over an alternating sequence of concave and convex forms, affirming the general line yet investing the 946 with a new and entirely modern dynamism. With its slit side panels, the naked frame looks vaguely biomorphous and absolutely futuristic.

The Vespa 946 2013 Collection will be available in Black and White only, and named "Ricordo Italiano". Production of the series will terminate at the end of the year - the Vespa 946 2014 Collection is already on the drawing board - to ensure that Vespa 946 scooters built in 2013 will be truly unique, unrepeatable products.

The Vespa 946 makes a clean break with the forms of the current - and successful - Vespa families. Having always been divided into "small-body" models (the current LX and S series) and "large-body" models (the GTS and GTV), the Vespa now introduces an entirely new vehicle that pays homage to classical precepts, yet interrupts the continuous evolution of the scooter's design in a sort of fascinating "return to the future".

As ever in the story of the Vespa, the frame is a steel body - now 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 distils 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 masterpiece of italian manufacturing

Details like hand-sewn handlebar grips, aluminium parts fitted manually one by one on the steel body, a dedicated production line that resembles a couturier's atelier more than an assembly line: the Vespa 946 is built with the skill of the craftsman, piece by piece, with manual work taking pride of place as on all the best Italian luxury products.

The Vespa 946 assembly shop is a completely new department, employing state-of-the-art technology and organisation principles. The assembly line is one of a kind: designed specifically for this milestone in the history of the Vespa, it achieves an impressive combination of cutting-edge production technologies and the attention to detail of master craftsmen. Each 946 is hosted on its own Automatic Guided Vehicle island (AGV), which transports it to the various work stations by moving automatically along a magnetically guided track, thereby avoiding all overhead and permanent floor-standing structures.

At the work stations, the Vespa, anchored to a mechanical arm, can be effortlessly and freely turned through three axes, without causing any stress to the body. This gives the operator full access to the various sections, maximises ergonomic operation and guarantees the manual accuracy required by every top-quality handcrafted product.

The Vespa 946 began life as a luxury product starting with the development of the systems used in its construction: even the production of the dies was a painstaking process of tests and simulations.

2,320 mm of arc welding and 320 welding spots on the frame are required to produce the metal body of the Vespa 946, testimony to an unrivalled level of construction excellence. A similar quantity of innovations, together with exclusive systems for the new Vespa, were developed in the paintshop.

The production of the aluminium castings involved the formulation of special technical specifications, both for the die-casting process and for the metal shop. A similar level of expert care was devoted to handling operations, with the precise definition of procedures and packaging to protect the semi-finished items and parts that make up the Vespa 946.

The quality of the materials and assembly work is monitored continuously, at every production phase, and the outstanding quality of the finished scooter is guaranteed by a series of rigorous and entirely innovative control procedures.

The finished Vespa is placed on a wooden pallet on which it will be shipped, entirely enclosed in a protective wrapper.

The precious 946 is accompanied by a kit for the lucky owner, which includes a Log Book (an elegant volume illustrating the genesis of the Vespa 946 and its unique design and production features, personalised with the individual scooter's chassis number and production data), an instruction and maintenance manual, and the warranty.

The box also contains a chrome aluminium cover to enhance the section where the saddle is attached to the body: this distinctive aesthetic feature is installed when the 946 is delivered to the customer. The cover is personalised with a laser-engraved phrase, "Ricordo Italiano" - the distinguishing mark of the 2013 Collection -, and the production year. Inside, it is stamped with the scooter's barcode and alphanumeric ID code.

The kit is the final detail making ownership of this highly prized vehicle, destined to go down in history and to accumulate in value over time, a truly exclusive experience.

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 saddle, on an aluminium support, is a remarkable example of design, gracefully enhancing the overall look of the Vespa 946, while delivering maximum functionality. Attached to the body by means of a cast aluminium support, the saddle, which also accommodates a passenger, is handmade in a high-quality pre-waterproofed fabric.

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 Vespa 946 also provides a window on the future of engine technology.

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.

The engine was designed, developed and built entirely in Pontedera, at the Piaggio Group's largest facility, one of the most important and advanced engine research, development and production centres in the world. The challenge taken on by the Group is to meet the requirements of an increasingly exacting client with products that, in addition to performance, reliability and safety, led the field in eco-sustainability.

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.

Accessories and riders collection

A jewel of this calibre had to be accompanied by an array of outstanding accessories. Handlebar grips and saddles in real leather, a neat little windshield, a chrome aluminium rack to hold the leather helmet case not only enhance the functionality of the Vespa 946, they add true touches of style. Designed and produced with the same craftsmanship as the scooter itself, the accessories line also includes aluminium covers for the front wheel and the under-saddle, and protective covers for the rider's legs and hands in winter.

The Vespa 946 is available with the Vespa Multimedia Platform (VMP) for connection of a smartphone to the Vespa 946 electronic system, transforming the device screen into an on-board computer to display information in addition to the data provided by the extensive range of standard instruments, alert the rider to anomalies such as tyre wear or low pressure, provide travel and route information.

A lycra protective cover for the Vespa 946 enhances the stunning lines of the most "precious" Vespa when the scooter is stationary.

Carbon fibre helmets, leather document holders personalised with the Vespa 946 logo, and a collection of polo shirts, t-shirts and hoodies are available for proud owners eager to show off the timeless elegance of the Vespa brand.

The possibility to enhance the Vespa 946 with these exclusive details will become a privilege and a further exercise in style. The mark of a distinctive personality: the owner's, even more than the vehicle's.

Specifications

Engine

Single cylinder 4 stroke, with catalytic converter and eletronic fuel injection, Single overhead camshaft - 3 valve (2 intake, 1 exhaust)

Cylinder capacity

155 cc

Max speed

57 mph (93 km/h)

Tank capacity

2.2 gallons (8.5 liters)

MPG

up to 117 mpg (up to 50 km / l)

Ignition

Electric

Transmission

Automatic “twist and go” CVT

Front suspension

Single link arm with coil spring and dual-action hydraulic shock absorber

Rear suspension

Coil spring with adjustable preload, mono shock with progressive lever system

Front brake

Disk, 220 mm + ABS - ASR

Rear brake

Disk, 220 mm + ABS - ASR

Seat height

31.6 in (805 mm)

Emissions approval

EPA and CARB

Warranty

All 2014 and newer Vespa scooters include a 2-year unlimitedmileage warranty. *Limits are outlined in the warranty booklet. See dealer for details.

Roadside Assistance

1 Free year of Roadside Assistance provided by Road America and Road Canada


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