Modern Buddy

Way back in July, in a thread about the defunct but sort of missed BMW C1 scooter, I said:

ericalm wrote:I still think the C1 was a good idea which will probably be revisited at some point (though maybe not by BMW). There are other scoots with canopies, but nothing this integrated. The Piaggio MP3 has an add on.

From what I've read, the C1 had performance and handling problems. But cross this concept with something like the MP3 or Venture One with a hybrid or electric powertrain and you could have one awesome, economically feasible vehicle.

Maybe VW (which is developing 2 and 3 wheeler prototypes) will take this on.

Lo and behold, someone at Peugeot agrees that this would be a kick ass idea. The supercharged hybrid 125 would reportedly have the power equivalent to a 400cc engine and would get 118 MPGs. Just a concept for now, but it looks and sounds pretty damn cool.

Unlike the Vectrix 3-wheeler, this doesn't use a version of Piaggio's MP3 tech for the front. Peugeot has developed a system specifically for this vehicle that takes advantage of the extra power from the hybrid:
"The two front wheels are independently powered by individual wheel-mounted hub motors and have no connection to the supercharged four-stroke 125cc engine that powers the rear wheel. Regenerative braking is all that provides power to the scooter's battery pack. "

I like it. I liked the look of the BMW, and the mp3, but together, they are better! Cant wait to see companies making 3 wheel scooters (2 in the front) Maybe PGO will develop one and genuine import it within the next 5-10 years.

jfrost2 wrote:Maybe PGO will develop one and genuine import it within the next 5-10 years.

I'm not sure either is interested in a scooter that would cost over $7K.

And given all the engineering in these, I'd have a hard time trusting one that cost less!

That is pretty nice looking. Have to wonder about the range if the battery pack only gets juice from braking then do you lose a lot of that extra power when the pack gets drained on long rides? That would be kind of a downer.

Cool concept, and considering BMW is involved I believe we are talking more than twice the $7K price once it would actually get to market.

Am I the only one that looks at that machine and thinks, "Okay, but I like scooters."? I don't want a roof, don't want a tricycle, and like the idea of carrying a passenger occasionally with her arms around me if I want to. Scootering involves wind in my hair and oneness with my surroundings not separated by a bunch of plastic. That thing looks closer to being a Smart Car than it does a Buddy. Its nice, and great for someone that is purely looking at a green commuter. But for fun, at least in my toy chest, a conventional scooter would still win out.

dorian wrote:Cool concept, and considering BMW is involved I believe we are talking more than twice the $7K price once it would actually get to market.

Am I the only one that looks at that machine and thinks, "Okay, but I like scooters."? I don't want a roof, don't want a tricycle, and like the idea of carrying a passenger occasionally with her arms around me if I want to. Scootering involves wind in my hair and oneness with my surroundings not separated by a bunch of plastic. That thing looks closer to being a Smart Car than it does a Buddy. Its nice, and great for someone that is purely looking at a green commuter. But for fun, at least in my toy chest, a conventional scooter would still win out.

BMW is not involved in this as far as I know.

I sort of agree with what you're saying as far as the open air pleasures of scootering. I think this vehicle will appeal to both some current riders but also to a lot of people who haven't considered riding, much like the MP3 has. It's much more of an alternative to a car than an alternative to a scooter, but that's part of what makes it cool to me.

For what it's worth, the MP3, as unscooterlike as it looks, rides like a scooter, not a tricycle. You don't feel the third wheel, but you do feel the increased stability and ease of cornering. I think this would be pretty much the same.

Nice idea but Peugeot uses Piaggio engines for most of thier vehicles and do not really have a market share in the USA. Another reason why Piaggio renamed the Gilera Fouco 500 the Piaggio MP3 500.

This is a CG image??

Jon

scooterjon wrote:Nice idea but Peugeot uses Piaggio engines for most of thier vehicles and do not really have a market share in the USA. Another reason why Piaggio renamed the Gilera Fouco 500 the Piaggio MP3 500.

This is a CG image??

Yup, this is CG. I hope they'll produce a concept version next year. This would not have a Piaggio engine from what I've read about it. (The Piaggio hybrid engines are plug in.)

Piaggio doesn't sell Gileras in the US at all. The Fuoco/MP3 is the first instance of a Gilera scoot coming to the US, so it was rebranded to fit in an existing line. I don't know if they'd bring other Gileras over this way but it might be interesting to see the Runner and GP800 in US dealers. Not that I'd buy either, but still interesting.

I've seen a guy on scoot.net who occasionally imports gilera runner 180's from europe and sells them in the US. He recently imported 4 2008 bikes, 2-3 were new but the other/s were missing parts.

But as for fully legal, the mp3-500 like eric said is the only one currently imported by piaggio/vespa.