Cagiva-Piaggio Deal Done?

CAGIVA-PIAGGIO DEAL DONE?

Bruno de Prato

PIAGGIO AND THE CAGIVA Group are set to close a deal that has been floating in the middle of nowhere for a long, long time. The heart of the problem has been the sentimental tie between Claudio Castiglioni and MV Agusta. Castiglioni didn’t want to give up his precious MV for just any price. In fact, the price he was reportedly asking was out of this world!

The Cagiva Group includes three makes: Cagiva, MV and Husqvarna. Piaggio previously acquired 20 percent of the stock, but wanted 100 percent. Castiglioni, however, kept asking for an upper-management position for himself-in addition to a truckload of money. Piaggio countered with a top post or money, but not both. The two parties came close to splitting, but a compromise has apparently been reached. Castiglioni will keep MV for himself, and Piaggio will acquire 100 percent eon« trol and ownership of Cagiva and Husqvarna.

Husqvarna is solid, selling more than 10,000 bikes per year. Expect a V-Twin in the neaip ture, as we as improve ments to it! production R&Dfa Cagiva, while,

tie or _______

outside Italy. It will be incorporated into Gilera with the current Suzuki

TL 1000-engined Raptor streetI fighter and Navigator adI venture-tourer powered by a new 90-degree VTwin. This engine has recently been tested in a 920cc displacement. I which is the exact double of the sohc, four-valve, 460cc Single that powers Pi aggio’s X9 500 GT scooter. In fact, the engine will serve as the

basis for an entire family of new Piaggio-Gilera fourstrokes. In 920cc form, the VTwin is reportedly producing more than 105 horsepower. What’s more, it’s lighter, more compact and much cheaper to produce than the Suzuki unit.

As a result, there is a future for the never-seen-stateside Navigator and Raptor. MV’s future, however, remains in question.