Italy Powers Up
ITALY POWERS UP
BURDENED BY CONTRAdictions and last-minute deals that never seem to come to fruition, the Italian motorcycle industry is tip-toeing toward the third millennium. As a whole, the industry remains fractioned to the point that not even the most well-known makes exceed sales of 30,000 units per year. Only Ducati approaches that figure, while the others trail well behind. Of course, the same stigma doesn't apply to scooters, which are another story altogether, and a very successful one at that.
Here's the latest: Moto Guzzi is at work on a long-term finan cial plan. President Mario Tozzi Condivi fired Managing Director Oscar Cecchinato after a scheme to move the factory from Man dello del Lario to Monza back-
fired. As a result, the new liquidcooled, 75-degree, 1000cc V Twin (Roundup, August, 1998) has been mothballed. Tozzi-Con divi believes the current air cooled engine is still acceptable. Guzzi is co-owned (80 percent) by the Trident Rowan Group and a new partner, North Atlantic Financial Group.
Now, the offi cial company name is the Moto Guzzi Corporation. Future products should include the clas sic-looking Vii Sport (six speed transmission, 90 horsepower, 143-mph top speed) and Vii GT sport-tourer. Long
overdue, the latter bor rows its gas tank and rolling chassis from the Centauro. Styling is somewhat bulbous, but the concept is right. Meanwhile, the situa tion at Moto Laverda is not as untoward as rumors suggest. The Fordigital Group has acquired najority ownership tnggering reports that the lesser sharehold ers had sold out because the make was in trouble. Though still a very small operation, Laverda is fairly solid, with a re alistic plan for its future, which hinges on a new, high-tech Triple. The engine was devel oped by Ingegnere Pietrobello, who has a Formula One back ground and helped with
Lamborghini's V-12 in the early Nineties. The ftiel-injected, liquid-cooled, dohc 1 2-valver will initially dis place 900cc and propel the compa ny's next-genera tion superbike. Peak power should exceed 130 bhp at 11,000 rpm, with more than 70 foot-pounds of torque at 9000 rpm. Production should begin in the year 2001.
Bruno de Prato
