Arguably one of the coolest (and most enjoyable to ride) scooters on the market, the Piaggio MP3, has already won over a fair few sceptics with its clever three-wheel design, and now the range has been expanded.
While the 250cc and 400cc versions of the MP3 have been on sale in Australia for some time now, Piaggio has taken the wraps off the new MP3 500 Sport.
Though it's not yet clear if the new model will find a home in Australia, the 2010 MP3 500 Sport will be powered by a 492cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that generates around 40hp.
Like the rest of the MP3 range, a CVT automatic transmission sits between the engine and the rear wheel, but the new MP3 500 Sport gets uprated suspension and tweaks to the chassis to give it a more sporting character.
Everything else is very similar to the 250 and 400 models, including the unique two-wheeled front-end with its cantilever suspension and lean system. This affords the vehicle higher levels of grip and improved traction in the wet.
The 500 Sport retains the large underseat storage of its siblings, and also features the same locking mechanism for the front suspension, which keeps the scooter upright when stationary.
With more power the 500 Sport has the potential to increase the MP3's appeal to a broader range of riders, particularly those who may have viewed the models as a bit tame.