MP3 plays new tune
New has radar, riding modes, a big telly and reversing camera Piaggio MP3
Sixteen years after Piaggio stunned scooterists with their leaning three-wheeled marvel, the Italian company have turned the MP3 into the most electronically advanced scoot ever. The new MP3 530 HPE Exclusive is equipped with a radar system that warns you if traffic is in your blindspots and helps guide you when using reverse gear. And just like in the latest cars, when you engage reverse, a camera displays what’s going on behind you on the dash. Traditionalists will no doubt question whether all this is strictly necessary on a scooter, albeit a heavy one, but we like the idea of French and Italian commuters – who buy boatloads of MP3S – bombing around backwards while staring at their dashboards. It’ll add another dimension to the devil-maycare atmosphere of Paris and Milan. The HPE also comes with plenty of the more common motorcycle electronics. The new 44bhp 530cc single-cylinder motor has three riding modes – Comfort, Eco and
Sport – which as per usual adjust power curves and throttle sensitivity. There’s also cruise control (though not a radar-guided one, which is disappointing), keyless ignition and a 7in TFT display that can connect to your phone and run sat-nav. Plastics have been completely redesigned to improve weather protection and stability while the constantly variable transmission (CVT) and leaning three-wheel cleverness remain unchanged.
Naturally, there is a cost penalty to all the new gubbins. The top of the range 530 HPE Exclusive comes in at £11,030 which is strong money for a scooter, but there again it has got more electronic toys than a £20,000 BMW K1600GT and is still £1400 cheaper than the Yamaha T-max Tech Max. Below the HPE in the revamped MP3 range is a new 400 (£8950) and a 400 Sport with – as far as we can make out – some stickers and red brake calipers for £9375. All will be available later this summer.
‘The most electronically advanced scoot ever…’