click on the image above for many more pictures

Way back in 2006, Piaggio invented a new category in motorcycling: the three-wheeled leaning scooter. It turns out that they were really on to something - the MP3 has been selling so well that Piaggio has decided to introduce two new versions of the machine to the American market. Joining the original 250cc MP3, Piaggio has officially announced their plans to release both a 400cc version and a 500cc version. With 34 horsepower, the 400 offers a useful increase in power to the original MP3, but we're more interested in the 500. Boasting 40 horsepower, the MP3 500 is capable of about 90 miles per hour. We also prefer the Mad Max ready-for-anything look of the 500 to the swoopy plastic look of the 250 and 400. A Ducati it's not, but if your Italian cycling passion is a bit more rational, Piaggio may have exactly what you are looking for.

Gallery: Piaggio MP3 500

Gallery: Piaggio MP3 400

[Source: Piaggio]

Continue reading Officially Official: Piaggio MP3 400 and MP3 500

Officially Official: Piaggio MP3 400 and MP3 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And now for something completely different. Yamaha has just announced that it will be bringing a bevy of new motorcycle and scooter models to the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. One of the more interesting concepts, which we'll roughly refer to as a motorcycle, is the Tesseract. Piaggio has a success on their hands in the form of the MP3, which is capable of leaning into turns despite the third wheel. Yamaha has one-upped that with its Tesseract, though, by adding yet one more whee,l bringing the total count to four. And yet, nobody would confuse this machine with a car!

Again, following Piaggio's lead with its impending hybrid MP3, Yamaha has made this concept a hybrid, boasting both a V-Twin engine of undisclosed size along with an electric motor. Yamaha claims that the machine is about the same width as a standard motorcycle, meaning lane-splitting could feasibly remain an option and parking shouldn't be too difficult. The Tesseract has also been equipped with a mechanism to keep the machine upright when stopped or when parked, once again, like the MP3. As for the styling? It's, uh... different! Imagine a Transformer half transformed and you'll be pretty darn close. And we love it!

[Source: Yamaha Motors]

Tokyo 2007 Preview: Yamaha Tesseract concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Getting some attention over on autobloggreen is this post on alternative forms of transportation. What you see here are close encounters of the three-wheeled kind. Included are the Lazareth Triazuma, Ural and Harley-Davidson sidecars and the Piaggio MP3. While these vehicles can be considered green due to their lower emissions and higher fuel mileage than cars, the Triazuma would be very exciting to pilot, being very close to the ground with amazing levels of acceleration and grip. Another set of builders has expirimented with the idea as well, making the SUB 3-Wheeler. With supercar acceleration and less fear of falling off, would you ride one to work?

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

What is the most fun you can have on three wheels? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.