Unless I'm casually leaning on it while sipping an espresso on the Piazza Navona with my lovely wife on my arm, I don't think there's any way I could look sexy on this hybrid scooter. That said, if I wouldn't get mowed down by one of Texas's ubiquitous ½ ton pickup trucks as soon as I pulled on the road, one of these would be all I'd need for my short work commute... and I wouldn't even have to start the engine.
In a press release yesterday The Piaggio Group introduced the MP3 Hybrid (no it's not an iPod killer)... it's the world's first hybrid scooter and a vehicle they say is destined to revolutionise [sic] urban mobility. This is not just a "scooter with two powerplants", but a highly advanced vehicle supplements a low environmental impact conventional internal combustion engine with a zero emissions electric motor, summing the advantages of the two units.
"Adopting uniquely exclusive technology - this is the first vehicle in the entire automotive sector using lithium ion batteries, which can also be charged from the mains (wall plug) - Piaggio Mp3 Hybrid reduces both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50%, complementing the already enviable attributes in terms of technology, safety and rider enjoyment that make the Piaggio Mp3 - the revolutionary three-wheeled scooter - such a hit."
Take a good long look at the photo above. What do you think? Despite a decent marketing campaign, can one really look sexy on a three wheeled hybrid scooter? More to the point, can I look sexy on a three wheeled hybrid scooter? Because after all, global warming be damned, isn't looking sexy what really counts when purchasing transportation? ;) Now if I can just find a baby sit that will fit.
How did it ever happen that the Italian could ride the only pretend bike in the world and make it desirable
ReplyDeleteIn TX with a family, I'd go for a Prius or other Civic hybrid...for the daily commmute in non-blast-furnace weather, how about a bicycle (you don't have to wear Spandex. Really, you don't. No, really.)
ReplyDeleteThe scootery thing is kind of cool, but drivers would expect you to be able to keep up with traffic, and you'd get hit. In Dallas in the neighborhoods, it would be fine...but Arlington?
I've always maintained, Frank, that just as a bartender can cut someone off if they've imbibed too much, a store clerk ought to be able to refuse to sell some people spandex. Anyway, no worries there. I'll spare the world the visual assault and not sport spandex bike shorts. Yep, I see a Prius (or similar) in my immediate future.
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