Piaggio, the company that invented scooters more than 60 years ago with the Vespa, has filled another gap in the Australian scooter market with the release of the X7 250.

The elegant and distinctively designed X7 combines light weight and agility to tackle urban traffic, with the excellent stability, road holding and protection that were previously found only on far bigger maxi scooters.

The X7 has large diameter 14-inch (front) and 13-inch (rear) wheels, and a chassis built to cope with city life and highway commuting.

Great performance is guaranteed with Piaggio's Quasar 250cc liquid-cooled, four-valve EFI engine. It is recognised as the scooter engine the others have to beat, for its exceptional power, low consumption and reliability. An impressive 16.2kW (22hp) and 20.2Nm of torque give the X7 an exceptionally smooth ride and a top speed at the top of its category.

The X7 features a large underseat storage area for shopping and your helmet, plus the ubiquitous shopping bag hook. The X7 can also be tailored to your needs with a complete range of optional accessories, including a colour-matched 44-litre topbox and all-weather "hotcover" (lap rug). The X7 comes in a choice of three metallic finishes: Pulsar Grey, Midnight Blue and Shiny Black.

"Commuters have long lusted after a scooter that fills the gap between the smaller scooters and the bulkier maxi scooters," said Simon Gloyne, Piaggio Brand Manager. "The X7 250 now fills that gap with engine and chassis features of the big maxi scooters, but without the bulk."

The X7 retails for $6990 (plus ORC).

For more information, or copies of hi-res images, please contact:

Mark Fattore
Marketing Manager
Piaggio Australia
20 Stubbs Street
Kensington, Vic 3031
Tel:+ 61 (0)3 9381 9733
Mobile: + 61 (0)417 557 204
Fax: + 61 (0)3 9381 9798
Email: mark@psimporters.com.au

www.piaggio.com.au
www.vespa.com.au

About Piaggio
The Piaggio company, nestled in the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Pisa, first invented scooters in 1946 when it produced the first-ever Vespa and helped liberate a war-torn Italy. Vespa remains the iconic scooter brand with its unique metal-bodied design. Today, Piaggio continues to produce scooters under the classic Vespa brand, the sporty Gilera brand and the contemporary Piaggio brand. In Australia, PS Importers is the sole importer of this iconic and popular range

About Vespa
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in "Roman Holiday" were only the first of a long series of international actors and actresses to be seen on the world's most famous scooter. In photo shoots, films and on the set, the Vespa has been a "travel companion" for names like Raquel Welch, Ursula Andress, Geraldine Chaplin, Joan Collins, Jayne Mansfield, Virna Lisi, Milla Jovovich, Marcello Mastroianni, Charlton Heston, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Gary Cooper, Anthony Perkins, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Nanni Moretti, Sting, Antonio Banderas, Matt Damon, Gérard Depardieu, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson.