Italian trio lobs in

The four-stroke, liquid-cooled Nexus 500 (shown here in light grey), which was first introduced in 2003, has now received a comprehensive makeover. On the styling front,that equates to a sharper-looking, lower-set fairing, while the dashboard graphics are totally new and easier to read.

Seat height is now 25mm lower (to 795mm), with a riding position that claims a better balance between urban and sports use. The handlebars are also positioned slightly higher, while the suspension has been revised to provide more comfort on any type of road surface.

The dry weight of the Nexus 500 is 199kg, while the 460cc singe-cylinder engine, which meets Euro 3 emission standards, produces 40 horsepower (at 7500rpm) and 4.3kg-m (at 5750rpm) of torque. The scooter features a centrifugal clutch and automatic "twist and go" continuously variable transmission.

The Nexus 500, which can be personalised with a wide range of accessories, retails for $9990 (plus ORC), and is available in two metallic shades: grey and black.

Meanwhile, the fuel-injected X8 250ie (shown in black) now claims more power than previously and meets Euro 3 standards.

The seat height has been lowered to 785mm, and the rear boot and underseat storage have been combined to produce a massive 56lt "storeroom" - complete with remote key access. The scooter also features an analogue clock.

The X8 250ie's accessories catalogue includes a windscreen, rear rack with flip-down plate, 48lt top box, and remote-controlled anti-theft device.

It's now on sale at $7690 (plus ORC) in silver grey or black.

Piaggio is also bringing in a revamped Zip 50 (pictured in blue) at a very affordable $2190 (plus ORC).

The importer says the electric-start Zip 50 has many features not normally found in the entry-level market, including alloy wheels and front disc brake, three-position height adjustable seat, and environmentally friendly single-cylinder four-stroke engine. Other features include telescopic forks, automatic transmission, underseat helmet bay and a lockable glove box.

The Zip 50 is available in four colours: Nero Lucido (black), Rosso Dragon (red), Azzurro Siderale (blue) and Grigio Excalibur (silver).

The Zip 50, which has a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty, can be ridden on car licences in Qld, WA, SA and NT. Additionally, reduced on-road costs are available in some states via single-seat registration.