Lambretta returns

Thoroughbred scooter fans rejoice, for Lambretta is returning to Australia after almost 40 years. And the Italian brand has set the audacious goal of becoming one of the best-selling scooter names in Australia within four years.

Australian Motorcycle Distributors (AMD) will import the Italian-designed and manufactured scooters Down Under in 2011, with a number of models between 50-300cc the first off the boat, but the importer has not detailed how it plans to rise to the top of the tree, whether through aggressive pricing or blanket advertising.

Lambretta has also recently re-entered the 125cc motorcycle championships and rumour has it that the Italian company is even working on a brand new motorcycle. Could it be a 125cc race replica? Time will tell…

The Lambretta Reparto Corse 125cc race bike (third image) will be competing at the Australian MotoGP round at Philip Island on October 17, for those die-hard Lambrettisti who will want to see it in action.

The first Lambretta scooters to go on sale in 2011 will include the SL50i and RL125i "for zippy but fuel-frugal city commuting" according to the AMD press release, along with the more powerful and larger GL125 GTi and KL300 GTi models.

"Lambretta is a retro-modern lifestyle enabler for a new age, an idea whose time has come - again," says Alan Lazarus of AMD, "and we want to make it one of the best selling scooters in Australia within four years."

"Obviously this is great news for our existing dealers and we'll be delighted to expand our network with the right interested parties," added Lazarus, hinting that it wants to expand its dealer network.

Expect the Australian scooter market to be given a good shake-up when the iconic Lambretta marque returns in 2011.