Scootermercato shared an Italian language article about a new Lambretta design. I like the color and the headlight has been moved to the front of the leg-shield. The angle of the headset and light position likely taunt those passionate Lambrettisti who adore the the first series of LI model scooters that followed the LD with enclosed bodywork. The photo looks great because the scale would be perfect if those would be 10″ wheels. But they are 12″ and if placed alongside other models it’s lack of proper proportion would be more apparent.

If you are interested in the Lambretta Saga, check out the Lambretta.com site. It is now mostly a posting of legal actions the supposed true copyright holders are taking against everyone involved in anything tangentially related. Tartarini the younger designed this new bike. They should have just done these bikes under a name of a different Lombardy river or maybe just the Italjet founder surname.

Now of course, Innocenti did build Minis (and a variety of other cars) back in the day, we’re not experts in this area of scooter-related arcana, but all the examples we’ve ever seen bore the hybrid British Leland/Innocenti logo. BLMC licensed the Mini design to Innocenti in 1961, and the Italians had great success with their arguably-superior version of the British original. BLMC bought Innocenti outright in 1972, just as Lambretta production ceased. Shortly later, Innocenti closed up shop for good, and BLMC went bankrupt in 1975. DeTomaso revived the brand name shortly later, while BLMC became part of the Rover group.

Innocenti-badged cars have been produced as recently as the late 90s, in Europe and Brazil, seemingly with Daihatsu, Fiat, and even Yugo connections. Leyland’s “Mini” trademark went to Rover and then to BMW, but the ownership of the Innocenti name is unclear. In any case, even if the Innocenti name is legit (and we all know that even if the maker honestly believes they’ve legally secured the trademark, there’s always someone waiting to prove them wrong) we’d guess BMW would have something to say about the use of the “Mini wings,” obviously implying a Mini pedigree. It’s all conjecture at this point, and the vehicle is probably far more exciting to scooter historians than to actual motorists.

Also of note: at 2:24 there’s an e-Schwalbe for all you Fuji Rabbit/Zundapp Bella (or vintage Simson Schwalbe) fans, and at 5:25 there’s the electric single-headlight I*****t Velocifero that you probably shouldn’t get too excited about.

From the Lambretta Motorcycles Facebook page, here is a video that even the exclusive vintage Lambretta lover could enjoy. Maybe a common enemy can be the tie that binds? Doubtful.

Mahindra Motors acquired the Italian firm Engines Engineering prior to the 2011 season in an effort to go racing. Engines Engineering had be entering machines in Grand Prix racing before, but it was under the Lambretta name in 2010 with Marco Ravailoli and a raft of temporary guest riders. While the young Italian and his teammates made valiant efforts under the Lambretta Reparto Corse banner, the switch to Mahindra racing colors and new riders, Danny Webb and Marcel Schrotter, has resulted in a better points placement this season. German and British hands seem to be able to get old Lambrettas going a bit quicker.

The Lambretta to Mahindra conversion also mirrors an Indian continuation of the Lambretta efforts. Interestingly, Scooters India Limited (SIL), the company that took over producing Lambretta models in the subcontinent, is up for sale. Piaggio, Atul Auto and Mahindra have all thought about acquiring the state-run factory, but have reconsidered in recent months. If they had bought the currently money losing company it would have made for a very tidy story!

The saddest and most important part of this event is that it is the last time two-stroke machines will compete at the top level of World-Class racing. It’s not that four-stroke 125s haven’t raced before and been magnificent. But for the last 40 years two stroke machines have dominated at least one class of Grand Prix racing and now it comes to an end. Not by lack of competitiveness, but by simple rule change. Manufacturer goals have changed and that sweet 2 Stroke Buzz plays no role in these aims. The new class will be single-cylinder four-stroke engines and Mahindra and others including Honda and KTM will field machines. But it certainly won’t be the same. Not the same noise, the same smell, the same simple beauty of the two-stroke steeds.

If you’d like to see the event, you can watch live from MotoGP.com for a price. The race starts at 4:00 AM CST on Sunday (tomorrow) morning. Less than an hour later will be a distinct end of an era.

Edit: Changed headline from defeated vulgarity to exasperated vulgarity. 8:30PM 7/21/2011

PR agency Life Longari & Loman’s nicely done glamour reel of the new Lambretta LN, with narration in Italian (and confirmation that Alessandro Tartarini designed it).

(Thanks to reader David Davidson for the link!)

The design is as good as could be hoped for, it’s pretty swoonworthy, to be honest. Let’s hope the quality and service are there to back up the looks, especially for a 125cc bike priced at US$5345. (Note: that’s the EU price converted to dollars, there always seems to be a substantial markup for the U.S. market.)

(photo from Zimbio)

Besides the hot topic in the Facebook world asking Lambretta owners where they buy their goods, there was an announcement today of a merger between two of the major Lambretta outlets in America. Jet200.com and Casa Lambretta USA have merged and will soon be operating under the Jet200 name. The same services of both companies will continue as before. So don’t fret, DCD. The shop will still be serving you at it’s Mile High location, though it will now be a purely Innocenti snob shop, excluding Vespa work for the benefit of focusing on, to put it politely, those who need the most help. (My words, not theirs!) Hopefully this will benefit all involved and make owning a beautiful scooter all the more tolerable.