Italian manufacturer Piaggio’s traditional business has been scooters and mopeds and is one of Europe’s most successful brands in two-wheeler history. While the scooters from Vespa were on display, Piaggio also managed to sneak in the soon to be launched Liberty 3V scooter at the 2014 Auto Expo. We were the first to report about Piaggio’s plans of bringing the Liberty scooter to India and now the intent to launch the same can be seen.
The Piaggio Liberty is one of most popular scooters in the world and has been on sale since 1997. The scooter features retro styling similar to the Vespa scooters and also gets a clear analogue instrument panel. The rear features an exposed engine with a high rising stop light. The Liberty is based on the step-through frame made of high strength tubing with a low seat for easy access. The large wheels assure accessibility, stability and a smooth ride over rough terrain.
The Liberty is equipped with a 125cc single-cylinder, 3-valve engine producing 10.5 HP of power and 9.6 Nm of torque mated to a CVT automatic. The scooter gets hydraulic telescopic forks up front and hydraulic shocks at the rear. Piaggio has equipped the Liberty with 16-inch tyres up front, while the rear gets 14-inch tyres. Stopping power comes from a 240 mm disc brake in the front and a 140 mm drum brake setup at the rear. The Liberty features electronic immobiliser, wide footrest, under-seat storage, pull-out passenger foot board as part of standard kit. The scooter displayed featured a large windscreen and a luggage rack mounted to the rear.
Piaggio is confident that the Liberty 125 will be a revolutionary product in the Indian scooter market. You can choose from attractive colour shades namely white, blue and black. The Liberty offers low fuel consumption and high performance and loads of practicality. Piaggio has priced the scooter at 2220 euros (Rs. 1.87 lakhs) in Italy, and is planning for an Indian launch soon, manufacturing the vehicle at its Baramati facility.
