EICMA '11.2016

A collaborative partnership between the Piaggio Group and (RED) has created the (VESPA 946) RED – an all-red version of the classic scooter, sales of which will go towards initiatives fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The (VESPA 946) RED has been designed with elegance and style in order to show sensitivity to this serious problem. It symbolises the chance to join the battle against some of the most difficult illnesses humankind has to face.

This most exclusive and most valuable Vespa, a model born to celebrate the beauty of a mode of transport that has achieved legendary status, is also the only product in the automotive world to have been chosen by (RED). This is a record and a privilege that the Vespa 946 is honouring by turning every aspect of itself red, which has never been done before. The courage of the (VESPA 946) RED is also the asset that will make the biggest contribution to a very noble cause and allow it to join the ranks of other prestigious (RED) brands, such as Apple, Nike, American Express, Starbucks and Coca-Cola.

Founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (RED) has donated $360 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This money has gone to Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia; 100% of its resources have been invested in Africa to fund initiatives aimed at combating HIV/AIDS. (RED)'s donations to the Global Fund have had an impact on over 70 million people and been used to provide preventive measures, treatments, counselling, HIV tests and assistance services. Having been previewed in Rome as part of the Global Fund event last June with Bill Gates – one of the world's greatest players in the fight to promote the health and well-being of people in developing countries with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – the (VESPA 946) RED has now arrived with its final outfit: This how is the model will be sold in Europe, Asia, the Pacific Area and the United States.

For each (VESPA 946) RED sold, $150 will be donated to the Global Fund and the fight against AIDS. This valuable and substantial donation will enable (RED) to guarantee over 500 days' worth of life-saving medical treatments for HIV and help prevent mothers infected with the virus from passing it on to their unborn children.

Throughout its history, Vespa has been capable of surpassing the motorcycle's initial function as a simple and elegant vehicle and turning it into an extraordinary testament to its time, interpreting societal change and evolving accordingly. As such, funding an international project of such high social sensitivity is wholly consistent with Vespa's values and DNA – after all, this is a company whose charity "Vespa for Children" has already launched a healthcare programme for young patients affected by rare diseases at the paediatric hospital of Hanoi (Vietnam). Vespa is now joining forces with (RED) to try to create a world in which no child is born with HIV.

The (VESPA 946) RED is the 2017 version of the Vespa 946, a highly exclusive model dedicated to aesthetic and technological perfection whose name commemorates the year in which the Vespa – the ultimate symbol of Italian elegance – was born: 1946. The Vespa 946 tells the story of how the scooter's style evolved, of its role in contemporary society, and of the creation of new lines that have taken the original design to new levels of elegance.

Just like the MP6 prototype from which it draws inspiration, the (VESPA 946) RED is the product of the most advanced technology currently available. As per Vespa tradition, the bodywork is made of steel – on the (VESPA 946) RED this has been embellished with eye-catching aluminium components such as the mudguard and the side covers, which also serve to house and support the engine, the transmission, and all the scooter's mechanical parts. The aluminium mudguard at the front covers the 12-inch wheel with timeless elegance and is the same size as the rear cover. The detachable rims are made of an aluminium alloy. To ensure maximum safety, the brake system is of the double disc type and is complemented by a dual-channel ABS system. The (VESPA 946) RED is equipped with innovative ASR traction control, an advanced electronic system that prevents the rear wheel from skidding. This technological refinement, exclusive to the Piaggio Group, prevents loss of grip and ensures superior traction at all times.

The beating heart of the (VESPA 946) RED is a 125 cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine with three valves, which is air-cooled and has an electronic injection system. This ultra-modern engine consumes minimal fuel, makes very little noise and boasts exceptionally low emissions levels.

The injection system is state of the art in terms of functionality and usability. The 3D curves for injection advance, quantity and timing are managed by a control unit of the latest generation.

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