Vespa 946 2013

Techno(eco)logical milestones

Vespa Quarantasei (forty-six, the name refers to the year in which the first Vespa was manufactured) opens a window to the future in technology as well.

The beating heart of the Vespa Quarantasei is an extremely modern engine which unveils the development lines of motoring in the new future, characterised by low fuel consumption and decreased gas and sound emissions.

An extremely modern engine

The innovative 3 valve timing which characterises the Vespa Quarantasei engine allows optimisation of the load motion in the cylinder both in terms of tumble and swirl as well as optimal positioning of the spark plug, increasing combustion performance and at the same time guaranteeing optimum cooling of the parts inside the head.

For all of the bodies in motion bearings have been used in order to keep internal friction to a minimum: the timing rockers have a roller, all to the advantage of reducing noise and increasing mechanical efficiency, the camshaft is on bearings as well as the entire final drive.

The cooling system was carefully analysed, even through thermal fluid-dynamic simulations, in order to further improve performance, thereby obtaining significant reduction in terms of absorbed power and acoustics. 

Piaggio plans to produce the 946 with a choice of a 125cc or 150cc engines. The 125cc engine claims a maximum output of 11.7 hp at 8250 rpm and 7.6 ft-lb. at 7000 rpm. The 150cc version claims 13.0 hp at 8000 rpm and 9.3 ft-lb. at 6500 rpm.

The single cylinder 125 cc 4 stroke, 3 valve, air cooled engine with electronic injection represents Piaggio Group's state of the art technology in scooter engines.

The new engine has been designed, developed and manufactured entirely in Pontedera, Piaggio's largest plant, which is one of the most advanced engine development and production centres in the world. This engine is born from the challenge that the Piaggio Group has taken on: to provide an increasingly more evolved customer with a product that guarantees performance, reliability and safety while also leading the field in respect for the environment.

The injection system is state of the art for functionality and rideability, with automatic idle control and closed-loop titre management with a lambda probe. The three dimensional maps of advance, titre and injection timing are managed by a new generation control unit. Together with the trivalent catalytic converter, compliance with the Euro3 standard is more than guaranteed, even in anticipation of future standards which will be increasingly restrictive in terms of containment of polluting emissions.