Piaggio MP3 three-wheeler scooter this year undergoes a complete makeover and receives a high tech update. The Italian scooter maker’s range of three-wheeled scooters now includes the brand new 2022 Piaggio MP3 530 HPE Exclusive, the 400 HPE and 400 HPE Sport, as well as the base model 300 HPE. As Piaggio’s flagship scooter, the MP3 530 HPE Exclusive comes loaded with the latest in motorcycle electronics, and is the world’s first scooter to feature ARAS, or Advanced Rider Assistance Systems. The package, featuring Imaging Radar 4D technology, was first developed by Piaggio Fast Forward, its robotics subsidiary based in Boston, US.
This includes the Blind Spot Information
System (BLIS) and Lane Change Decision Aid System (LCDAS) functions, a world’s
first for scooters. Using sensors located in the front cowl and under the
centrally-located exhaust, the system monitors the rear to a distance of up to
30-35 metres, notifying the rider of approaching vehicles and also clearing the
blind spot prior to changing lanes. Also equipped with a reverse gear, the MP3
530 HPE Exclusive features a rear view camera with display in the 7-inch
TFT-LCD full-colour display and activation via a dedicated switch in the
dashboard. Standard in the 530 HPE’s electronics suite is cruise control,
keyless start and smartphone connectivity with navigation display.
The single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill on the 530 HPE Exclusive produces 44.2 HP at 7,250 rpm and 50 Nm of torque at 5,250 rpm, built on the basis of the previous generation 500 HPE engine. Upgrades in the engine room include a new light alloy aluminium cast piston, larger valves, optimised combustion chamber shape, and camshaft with optimised valve timing. Equipped with a new Magneti Marelli 11MP ECU with ride-by-wire throttle, the 530 HPE gets three ride modes – Eco, Comfort and Sport – and two-level ASR traction control (Acceleration Slip Regulation). The throttle is more responsive in Sport mode, smoother and more progressive in Comfort and Eco, with power reduced correspondingly while traction control has ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ settings.
Three-channel ABS by Continental is
standard on the MP3 530 HPE Exclusive, with 285 mm diameter brake discs on the
13-inch wheels. The front tilting suspension comes with a blocking mechanism
allows the MP3 to stay upright without the need of stand and the rider does not
have to put a foot on the ground at standstill, with a parking brake inside the
front cowl.
For styling, the MP3 530 HPE now comes
with a broader front cowl, giving the rider more wind protection, and houses a
new, horizontal light cluster with full LED lighting. The radiator is moved to
the lower half of the MP3, between the front wheels and the footboard, while a
smaller and sportier air intake is located at the front of the cowl. Rider
ergonomics are revised, with handlebar moved back and raised by 10 mm while the
footboard is lowered by 20 mm, giving a more relaxed riding position. The seat
is completely new, for both rider and pillion, with more longitudinal space and
a taller, more comfortable passenger grab handle.
Under the seat, the MP3’s storage space
accommodates two full-face helmets or a computer bag, equipped with a courtesy
light and mat. The seat opens electrically, either from the remote control, the
PIAGGIO MIA app on the rider’s smartphone or the dashboard switch, with
power-assisted shock absorber assisting opening and closing. For 2022, the MP3
530 HPE comes in four colour choices – Blu Oxygen Matt, Grigio Titanio, Nero
Meteora , and Grigio Cloud Matt – complemented with bronze details on the
graphite grey wheels. Chrome accents are used on the instrument panel frame,
dashboard, the stripes on the central tunnel, while other body panels are
finished in matte grey.