You must have seen the Piaggio MP3

You must have seen the Piaggio MP3 passing by on the streets in your place. But have we ever thought about how the Italian scooter manufacturer first developed it? Well, on this occasion we will show you the several three-wheeled vehicles that were developed and launched in the 1980s which are most likely the forerunner of the Piaggio MP3.

Piaggio MP3 was born. An Italian scooter manufacturer has also produced simple three-wheeled vehicles such as the Piaggio Ape. Of course, in terms of appearance and technology, the classic three-wheeled vehicle is far behind when compared to the MP3. There is more focus on three-wheeled vehicles with two wheels positioned in front (as later adopted by the Piaggio MP3), because they are considered more rational, stable and effective than the one which has two wheels at rear.

Piaggio MP3, which was specifically developed by the Italian manufacturer, stems from the Trautwein Doppelfront tilting three-wheeled prototype which was originally developed by an engineer and inventor from Meersburg at Bodensee, Germany named Dr. Wolfgang Trautwein in the 1980s.

Dr. Trautwein suggested the concept of using the Vespa-scooter platform, exactly three decades after the first motorcycle was equipped with a double-front chassis. In mid-1984, Dr. Trautwein received two original Vespa scooters (Vespa PX 200 E-Lusso and Vespa PK 125) from the Genoa-based scooter manufacturer to build a prototype of the tilting three-wheeler vehicle which later could be considered to be the forerunner of the MP3 today.

The concept of a tilting three-wheeled vehicle is continuously being developed by Piaggio and at the 2000 Bologna Motorshow, another well-known Italian brand, Aprilia, launched in Los Angeles, is a prototype of the Intelligent Mobility Lab. Motorizzato Piaggio Master 500, refined and evolved and already has the electro-hydraulic block to do without the stand. There is no mention of production, but of accessories; ABS, GPS and a covered version with a reclining roof. Unfortunately, it will remain a prototype, even in this case. But it is the lack of economic liquidity that takes away the possibility of driving it on the roads, but now the way is marked.

The first model of Piaggio MP3 was launched in 2006 and marketed globally by this Italian manufacturer, which then occupies the highest niche in its production line to this day. The Piaggio MP3 is known as the world's first tilting three-wheeled motorcycle which is equipped with various mainstay features so that it is claimed to be safer to ride. And today, the Piaggio MP3 comes in many variants under several powertrain options ie 250cc, 300cc, 400cc and 500cc.