We just can’t stop reiterating how important the Auto Expo 2012 has been for both the automobile world and the Indian customers alike. The Expo brought to the country all the latest and upcoming from the bikes and car world. It showcased everything from novelty to vintage, from high end luxury variants to low cost high mileage vehicles. Many a company got a skyrocketing boost to their sales figures right after the Expo finished its great outing. The Expo gathered crowds from all across India, bike and car enthusiasts from all over, to gape at the exquisite array of products on display. But not all were in the focus under the limelight but still made their presence felt in some way. Certain companies put on display their latest from the production line yet to hit the markets. And that brings us to our preview of the Piaggio’s Vespa.

Piaggio brings out its new Vespa scooters
The biking giants launched their latest product the Vespa LX 125 model, in the 2012 Expo. If you feel a tinge of familiarity with the name, it’s because this is Vespa’s second outing. Its earlier model started its stint at the Indian markets just last year, in 2011. Like its predecessor, which launched itself at the Mumbai expo last year, this year the company chose the 2012 Expo for its launch.  This time the Piaggio Vespa LX 125 is to go on sale from March, 2012. Nothing much has been revealed about its specifications other than the all so evident tank capacity of 125cc. The dealers are keeping mum about their latest product and haven’t even revealed the pricing of the scooter. But from unofficial statements it is speculated that the scooter will be priced at around Rs 60K.

Piaggio most noted in India for their top of the line bikes but they haven’t featured on the Indian terrain for the last 13 years. The first outing they made after a decade long gap was with the predecessor of Vespa LX 125. Piaggio had been in partnership with Bajaj Auto Ltd but for a long time before breaking off back in 1971. From then on, the company carried forward their legacy by joining hands with LML motors in 1983, which brought to us the Vespa Scooters in India. Then again things turned sour, and business deals and partnerships broke off in the year 1999, and the stakes for the Vespa was taken over by LML.

Piaggio has shown quite a bit of interest in delivering bikes to India and are making plans to bring in their own biking line somewhere in the near future. But as of now, we have the Piaggio’s Vespa at our service, running in at 10.7 bhp that delivers a sizeable torque of 9.7Nm. It is fitted with disc brakes up front enabling better braking. As of now, the company has a manufacturing unit at Baramati, Maharashtra. They intend to churn out around 1.5 lakh scooters every year for their first few years of their latest stint.