Piaggio Group had us pleasantly surprised when it first lifted the wraps off the Aprilia SR150, earlier this year. And even more shocking is the scooter’s sticker price. This sleek and sporty scooter has kickstarted a completely new genre in the Indian market, one which is sure to be popular among the youth. Here are six things that you need to know about the Aprilia SR150.
Hybrid character
Piaggio calls it a ‘sport-scooterbike’, we prefer referring to it as the Vespa’s athletic and hip cousin. While the term might sound confusing, a look at the Aprilia SR150 is enough to convince you that this scooter is in a class of its own. The only one of its kind in the Indian market, the sporty design elements coupled with the sophisticated cycle parts give the SR150 a very unique character.
Exotic appeal
Aprilia is an Italian superbike maker with a rich racing heritage spanning over 40 years. With 54 world titles under its belt, Aprilia’s motorcycle making philosophy is greatly influenced by its racing heritage. The overall design language of the SR150 draws inspiration from the rest of Aprilia’s superbike range. The sharp cut body lines, beaky front end and the RSV4-inspired dual-tone livery accentuate the SR 150’s sporty character, making it worthy of the hallowed Italian badge and giving it an exotic appeal that no other budget scooter in the Indian market can boast of.
Powertrain & Cycle parts
Nestled in split single cradle frame is the 150cc single-cylinder engine borrowed from the Vespa range. This engine produces 11.4bhp and 11.5Nm of torque through a CVT transmission, though Aprilia might offer this powertrain in a higher state of tune for the SR150. The 14-inch alloy wheels ride on telescopic front suspension and an offset rear monoshock. Braking is taken care of by a 220mm disc at the front and a 140mm drum unit in the rear.
Made in India
It was during the Auto Expo 2016 that Piaggio made a surprise announcement that the Aprilia SR150 would be manufactured locally. This not only helps the company save on import taxes, but also reduces manufacturing costs. The Aprilia SR150 is manufactured at Piaggio’s India plant in Baramati, Maharashtra alongside the Vespa range.
Price & Launch
While the Aprilia SR150, with its exotic appeal and sporty character, makes a good case for itself, the price tag of Rs 65,000 is the cherry on top. The high levels of localisation coupled with Piaggio’s intention of offering the scooter at a lucrative price point have made this possible. The first batch of scooters have already started rolling off the production lines, and deliveries are slated to commence in August.
Positioning & Rivals
The Aprilia SR150 is the most affordable 150cc automatic scooter in the country, and quite surprisingly is positioned below the most basic 125cc Vespa scooter. And though it is a league above these scooters in terms of performance, the price tag makes it share the market space with the Yamaha Fascino, Suzuki Access 125 and the Honda Activa 125.
