After Hindu Business Line reported that Piaggio’s working on a passenger model on the Ape Mini, SRK got down to working on it. There’s no confusion on the powetrain – A 441cc single-cylinder 9hp diesel engine paired to a 5-speed manual transmission.
The Ape Mini civilian application competes for marketshare with the Mahindra Gio compact cab and Tata Magic Iris. These vehicles will be deployed in cities and towns with crowded bus stops. They are wonderful creations as they share the burden of public transport in a safe and economical manner.
Piaggio is working on a passenger application of the Ape Mini, HinduBusinessLine has reported. The newspaper states the Piaggio Ape Mini passenger carrier appear on the market in the next few months. The Ape Mini is a half tonne cargo lorry priced at Rs. 1,73,600/- lakh.
Built for last-mile category of buyers who otherwise operate using three-wheelers it has features like sliding bucket seats, largest loading deck in its class and claimed class-leading fuel economy of 29kmpl.
The trend of adding seats and a roof to a mini lorry is not new as Tata hatched this idea back in 2005 and implemented it very successfully with the Ace-Magic combo. Mahindra’ imitation looks quite promising with the Gio and the Gio compact cab (very ambitious name I must say) and more recently the Maxximo and Maxximo Mini Van derivative. Force Motors is also not staying silent for long. Its Trump load carrier will play host to the Trump Trip, a intercity van that operate in tandem with buses and autorickshaws, reducing the burden on public transport.
Italian two- and three-wheeler manufacturer Piaggio is working on two versions of the NT3 small car, Financial Express reports. The NT3 is a three seater developed for emerging markets.
Apart from personal mobility, a derivative for the commercial vehicle segment on the same platform is being planned.
Ravi Chopra, chairman and managing director, Piaggio Vehicles -
The demand for small cars will be large in the densely populated countries and cities. These cars will also will be able to travel to places where the road infrastructure is not the best.” He added that the application movement version of the NT3 will be future Ape, its light commercial vehicle. The small car concept is based on the Vespa and Ape architecture.
Different powertrains will be fitted to this small vehicle. The 2.4 meter long NT3 will have 200cc and 300cc engines. The vehicle will attain a top speed of 80kph and 60kph respectively. An electric powertrain in addition, is also being planned.
click through to see NT3 Video
Piaggio is all set to change its image in India from a crude diesel engine commercial vehicle maker to of clean and fuel efficient vehicle manufacturer. The company plans to introduce BS 4 (Bharat Stage 4) complaint engines in its vehicles that have been designed and developed by Ricardo.
For the European markets, a 1.2 liter turbocharged diesel engine is being developed that will be equipped with diesel particulates filter (DPF). For India a naturally aspirated version of this engine will be made available to keep the costs down. The DPF will make sure that the engine is clean and fuel efficient and this engine will power Piaggio’s entire range of LCV’S.
Piaggio’s current model portfolio consists of 7 vehicles with engine capacities ranging from 395cc to 482cc. Plonking a 1.2-liter engine on these microscopic trucks and trikes is not a wise move. Piaggio could have derivatives of the 1.2-liter engine as well as larger load carrier and passenger vehicle suitable for such a high displacement motor without modifications.
Ian Penny, director – engine engineering, Ricardo said -
The new two-cylinder diesel is both a world first in offering Euro5 compliance in an engine of this type, as well as providing a cost-optimized architecture for naturally aspirated products in India.
Piaggio had also recently reveled plans of launching a small 3 seat city car, based on the Ape to battle it out with the likes of the Nano & Hyundai’s upcoming 800 cc car. This car could be powered a 200-300cc motorcycle engine and might hit our market by 2013 with a fuel efficiency figure of over 30kpl.
Piaggio India has launched the 0.5 tonne Ape Mini truck and has priced its new four wheel light commercial vehicle at Rs. 1.74 lakhs across all of India. Regular readers would remember we had brought spy pics of the Ape Mini few months ago.
The Ape Mini is said to return 29 kms to the liter, thanks to its incredibly fuel efficient engine and comes with a 15-month warranty and 5 free services. We expect a passenger version of the Ape Mini 4-wheeler to follow soon.
Ravi Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio India -
We have consistently gone to the market with our customers in mind. We are confident that the ape mini will outclass others in the half-tonne four-wheeler segment.
Piaggio India is one of the leading players in the light commercial vehicle segment with the Ape three wheeler having more than 10 lakh customers so far. With the Ape Mini four wheeler Piaggio would be take the fight right to the doorstep of Mahindra Gio and the soon to be launched Tata Ace Zip (Penguin).
Piaggio India which is finding good success in the LCV market, is developing another commercial vehicle to snatch the volumes of Mahindra Gio and the upcoming Tata Penguin.
The company made in-roads with Ape 360 range and the 1 ton Ape Truk in India and is gearing up for its next launch which looks like it can be introduced any day this week.
The test mules of the half-tonner were spotted during trials in the outskirts of Pune by our friends at Velociti Magazine. The vehicle understandably compact and has smaller dimensions than the flagship Ape Truk.
Some of the things on this vehicle have been borrowed from the Truk, like the in-cabin parts for example. It looks more or less like a mini “Truk.”
The half-tonner is expected to have a smaller engine that’s cheaper to manufacture. The company’s existing inventory will not be left untouched as components of lesser significance will be lifted out of it.
Velociti also speculates on a passenger application of the same platform.
Scooters within the 100-150cc range will flaunt their style on Indian roads
The Italian automaker is set to begin a new chapter in the Indian auto market by introducing their well known Vespa scooters once again in India through its in Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles India starting March 2010. Scooters within the range of 100 to 150 cc will be launched.
According to the sources, Piaggio will be setting up a two wheeler manufacturing plant at Baramati to cater this requirement. This would not be the first time Piaggio will be entering the Indian markets, Piaggio made its entry in our country back in 1960s in agreement with Bajaj Auto which expired in 1971. Then again in 1983, Piaggio tied up with LML which lasted for almost two decades and was called off in the year 1999.
Initially, Piaggio will be manufacturing 100cc scooter engines at the Baramati plant fulfilling the domestic as well as global needs. The company will increase their production depending upon the public demand.
So lets wait and watch how things turn out for the Italian Two-wheeler manufacturing company preparing for its third innings.
After Hindu Business Line reported that Piaggio’s working on a passenger model on the Ape Mini, SRK got down to working on it. There’s no confusion on the powetrain – A 441cc single-cylinder 9hp diesel engine paired to a 5-speed manual transmission.
