Italy’s metalworkers union had announced at the beginning of the year that if Malaguti didn’t find a buyer, it was likely the Italian motorcycle manufacturer would have to close. The factory facilities based near Bologna, in Italy, will be laying off 180 workers and closing production lines, unless a last minute purchase bid is made.

At this stage, it looks like Malaguti will go the same way as Moto Morini as another historic Italian motorcycle brand is shut down for lack of funds. The Malaguti family have apparently been looking for buyers, but with none found, the company will likely close its doors. Production and work hasn’t been carried out since April, and production lines and parts are currently being sold off.

Bologna union head Giuliana Righi says: “There have been three possible offers for the purchase of the company, which didn’t come about. This is a historic company but one which has experienced a significant drop in earnings in recent years, and which is no longer competitive. In these kinds of situations it’s difficult to understand why purchase offers don’t materialise - it’s hard to know whether offers were made and were judged insufficient by the Malaguti family.”

Source | Motoblog.it

New colours are available for the 2010 Malaguti XTM and XSM enduro and supermotard models. The 50 cc bikes will now be available in white and black/orange, with more agressive graphics.

The Malaguti XTM and Malaguti XSM have a 36 mm telescopic fork, and rear hydraulic shock absorber. They are equipped with a six speed transmission, particularly handy for younger riders familiarising themselves with bikes.

The frame is a twin-beam stainless steel structure, while the XTM is equipped with 240 mm disc brakes, and the XSM enduro with 260 mm disc brakes. The rear disc measures 220 mm. The Malaguti XTM and XSM cost about 2,600 euros.

Source | Motoblog.it

The Malaguti Hybrid 2.0 scooter is in final stages of development and should be ready for the market by spring 2010, after being presented at the 2009 EICMA show. It works with a “hub” electric motor and an endothermic engine, that kicks in only when the battery charge gets low.

The Malaguti Hybrid can run in full electric or hybrid mode. The electric mode allows for a daily average distance of about 20 km, while the hybrid mode using the 50cc, four-stroke engine has a range of 150 km. It is also enabled with an on-board battery generator, or recharge can occur with a 220V power outlet. Full details are after the jump and check out the Malaguti site for more information.

The project for the Malaguti hybrid vehicle has reached the final step. The hybrid system is based on an electric motor (”hub motor”) fed by batteries coupled with an endothermic engine, just working when the charge level of the batteries is low.

This kind of configuration is similar to an electric vehicle with a generator set on board, where the endothermic engine just recharges batteries through a generator, while the vehicle drive is exclusively electric.

The prototypes will be shown in the Malaguti area (hall 6 - booth F34 and GREEN PLANET area, hall 2) at the 67th Eicma, International Bicycle and Motorcycle Show, from November 10 to November 15.

Performance and daily lifetime advantages

The battery-endothermic engine mix aims to eliminate the main limits of the pure electric vehicles, i.e. the batteries autonomy and the time to recharge them.

The advantages for the daily commuting are interesting:

1. the hybrid vehicle may circulate in case of traffic restrictions or in restricted traffic areas;
2. it may benefit from the incentives;
3. it can be used under zero emission mode (daily average distance of 20 km), which assures the recharge of the batteries by the electric supply mains and a good saving;
4. consumptions can be optimized and emissions can be lowered to the minimum level, since the endothermic engine works under a stationary regime, regardless of the vehicle speed and the requested power;
5. the electronics can be managed upon each requirement: “best charge”, when the endothermic engine always works to keep the battery max level charge, “best efficiency”, when the endothermic engine just works if the battery level is below the minimum, “zero emission”, when the system is forced in the electric condition and the endothermic engine never works (very useful when driving through zero emission areas).

ZERO EMISSION mode

The working of the vehicle is purely electric when the batteries feed the electric motor placed on the rear drive wheel.
Under Zero Emission mode, the vehicle autonomy is over 20 km.

HYBRID mode

The 50cc, 4-stroke, liquid cooled engine integrated with the 1600W generator (flywheel -generator) produces the electric power which feeds the electric motor placed on the rear drive wheel and the surplus is used to recharge the batteries. This condition can be selected by the user or can be activated by the electronic control system at the minimum charge level of the batteries.

Under this condition, the vehicle autonomy is about 150 km.

Recharge of the batteries:
The batteries can be recharged both by the flywheel - generator and a 220V plug.

IMPORTANT:
In case of long stop of the vehicle with completely discharged batteries, it is quite enough to connect the cable placed in the leg-shield to the power supply mains to recharge the vehicle.

Miscellaneous
The scooter with hybrid motor will be produced and distributed under the Malaguti brand name. It is expected to be on sale in spring 2010 at a very interesting price.

The partnership between Malaguti and Ducati Corse continues, with this Troy Bayliss scooter replica. The new livery celebrates Bayliss’ third superbike title in last year’s world superbike championship.

The Malaguti Phantom F12R Bayliss Limited Edition adopts some of the elements of the Ducati livery from Bayliss’ win and the last race of his career on the Portimao circuit. The unmistakable number 21 is featured on a limited edition scooter designed for younger users.

The scooter is available in a liquid cooled version, with a multifunctional digital display. The Phantom limited edition includes 13-inch wheels and extra large tubeless tyres. It has 190mm disc brakes with hydraulic transmission and the weight is only 96 kg. The Phantom F12 Bayliss Limited Edition is available in dealerships at a price of 2,560 euros.

Source | Malaguti

The Malaguti scooter offering has been updated with a couple of new models: the Blog 125 i.e and the 160 i.e. The new Blog is a medium-sized scooter with two versions of a 125cc or a 160cc engine.

Both scooters have electronic ignition and comply with Euro 3 norms. The Centro engines are single-cylinder, four stroke, liquid cooled with power between 11.8 and 13.7 hp.

Another fundamental characteristic is the seat, 770mm from the ground, which guarantees easy riding and manoeuvrability. The wheels are 13 inches with disc brakes of 225mm at the front and 220mm at the rear. The dry weight is 138kg.

An ample underseat storage is included that can hold two jet helmets. The foot area is flat, and other elements include a multifunctional instrument panel and medium-sized windshield.

The Blog will be available from January 2009 with a starting price of 2,500 euros. The colour range includes four colours of ivory white, metallic silver, titanium and black. Accessories include Moto Alarm, large windshield, rear 37-litre storage and a scooter cover.

As seen at the Eicma show, Malaguti will have its hybrid scooter ready for 2009, a model that has been developed through Italian-Chinese collaboration and which became a truly specialised research project.

The project started in 2007 and had as its main objective, the commercialisation by 2010 of a vehicle with extremely low environmental impact, that could reduce emissions by more than 65 percent compared to current models.

Ecological matters are a recurring theme around the world and have a particular focus on the Asian continent where economic expansion and the rise of the middle class are rapidly increasing. The prototypes of this future scooter will be developed in two different versions: one for Europe and one for China.

The characteristics of this vehicle include the electric engine situated in the rear wheel, the endothermic engine, used exclusively as a generator, and an electric engine that can recharge itself when stopped.

Using the petrol engine as a generator solves the typical problems of battery duration and therefore engine range in electric engines. The thermic engine works at stationary revs, guaranteeing a significant reduction in emissions.

The petrol engine is a 50cc, four stroke, liquid-cooled engine, connected to a 1600w generator. The range of this hybrid structure is about 150km. The electric engine can also be recharged with a 220v outlet, and at zero emissions, using only the electric engine, range is 20km. Maximum speed is 45km/hr and weight is about 130kg.

This vehicle will adopt common components, ensuring lower costs in production. The price is said to be very interesting, and the concept should see commercialisation towards the end of 2009.

We’ve been waiting for the re-birth of the smaller cylinder segment for a while, as they’re great motorcycles for riders new to two wheels or for whoever wants a bike that’s easy to ride and manage.

In Italy, imports could be increased as there’s plenty of request in the market, while in other European countries like Greece and Croatia, numerous models from Japanese companies can be found.

With times currently as they are, transport which “drinks” less is always appreciated, while they can still give some riding satisfaction. Oberdan Bezzi, on his Motosketches blog, reports that Malaguti could try a motorcycle such as a 250cc Maverick, with an agressive and modern look.

So let’s skip notes on design and technical specs and say that this would be a motorcycle with the aim of reduced maintenance costs and consumption, but with enough grint to be fun all the same. The engine could be a Made in China, with Italian design quality marrying to a good price - success could be ensured.

Source | Motosketches

The temporary name for the project is CK 13, and will be available in 160cc and 125cc versions. Other features are likely to include a low, comfortable seat, front protection and shield, short and compact wheel base and large storage box that will hold two jet helmets. The brakes will include two disc brakes.

We should be seeing a compact and agressive design, rigorously made in Italy. The CK 13 will be equipped with a liquid cooled engine and electronic ignition, the same as the Centro. The engine is the fruit of an important international collaboration on electronic ignition and emissions, lower even than Euro 3 norms. The Malaguti CK 13 will be available by the end of 2008 with a price at 2,500 euros.

Source | Malaguti
Photo | Motociclismo