News – Milan Fair: passion and dynamism in Italy! – Crisis and dynamism with passion sauce

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Milan Fair: passion and dynamism in Italy !

News - Milan Fair: passion and dynamism in Italy! - Crisis and dynamism with passion sauce

The only European international motorcycle show this year, the 67th EICMA in Milan proudly rears its head, with resolutely optimistic exhibitors and all the Italian passion! Atmosphere and general overview of a show where the crisis is not invited !

Crisis and dynamism with passion sauce

The global economic crisis has succeeded in causing this year the cancellation of the Paris Motor Show (read), the absence of major manufacturers at national shows (Honda in England, Kawasaki in Japan, etc.), the outright shutdown of a radical brand like Buell, the unprecedented increase in Japanese prices and even the postponement of the presentation of new models…

The collapse of sales in the United States and in Europe, in particular, is largely responsible for this worrying reluctance of manufacturers, after several years of prosperity and record growth. This avalanche of difficult decisions had even led some observers to believe that the motorcycle was definitely to be placed in the category of (more or less) consumer products..

But by discovering the dynamism of the 67th Milan Motor Show, which opens its doors to the public this morning until Sunday, Site was able to see that the crisis had not (yet?) Been right about passion, creativity and the part of the dream that only the motorbike still knows how to drape itself to seduce a population keen on objects whose price, practical or security aspects sometimes appear unreasonable in a society with a jostled economy and obsessed with reason and security !

All is not rosy for all that: if this Salon of Milan 2009 brings a welcome breath of air and its seven gigantic halls packed to the brim offer a treat for lovers of novelties, concepts and curiosities, to hide the absence of two Japanese manufacturers (Honda and Yamaha, Suzuki being represented by the Italian importer) as well as the reservation displayed here and there concerning the questions on "the post-crisis" would amount to sinking into a blissful optimism.

Green Village and electric vehicles

Far from wishing to live on the fringes of realities, manufacturers (European, but also Asian) have devoted a large part to environmental problems, with many two (even three or four) electric wheels. The opportunity to note the real progress made in terms of autonomy and weight on these products for urban use.

Thus, the Swaygo Axio 575 E concept – a "four-wheeler" as wide as a quad, powered by a 10 kw motor – attracts attention with its 120 km of range and its charging time of "only" 180 minutes.

XO2 Transformer: 105 km / h peak, 83 kg with batteries, 2h40 of recharging, three engines (2000, 3000 and 5000 watts). Between € 1,890 and € 2,890 depending on the version. Expected availability: spring 2010 in France. (See our video interview opposite)

Or this 53 kg foldable electric scooter (without battery) presented by XOR Motors (Xtraordinary Objects on Road), a young French company based near Aix-en-Provence (see our video interview opposite).

With many Chinese proposals – whose strong presence in Milan does not go unnoticed – the Green Village of this 67th EICMA is also the opportunity to discover an original partnership between Ducati and Italwin, which results in the presentation of an electrically assisted urban bicycle equipped with a 250 watt motor !

Masterfully organized, this 67th Milan show of dizzying proportions welcomes the major players in the market, but also more modest and artisanal manufacturers such as Bimota or CR&S (read), whose know-how and quality of work illuminate the aisles. and offer a striking contrast with the "chinoiseries" (omni) present.

Dynamic, Italian manufacturers such as Piaggio (Piaggio, Gilera, Vespa, Aprilia, Derbi and Moto Guzzi), Ducati, MV Agusta or Benelli naturally appropriated this Milan Motor Show 2009 by demonstrating that despite the crisis, inventiveness and passion remain inseparable aspects of the motorcycle !

Alexandre BARDIN and Eric MICHEL

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