It's no secret that the light weight and smaller engines of motorcycles and scooters have given them some of the best milage on the road. But—some stylistic concerns aside— scooter manufacturer Piaggio has really outdone itself with their latest MP3 model, both in terms of sustainability and performance.

The company's new machine operates in the Chevy Volt style, making the first 13 miles on battery power alone before finally cutting into the gas. Of course, if you really feel like putting the hammer down, the 125cc engine opens up for a little internal combustion support, producing decidedly un-scooterly 0-60 times of around 5 seconds.

While I'm not entirely sold on the aesthetics of the three-wheeled design, I'm told it can still lean over up to 40 degrees in the corners. I have to admit, the performance numbers are impressive, and hopefully some of the innovations in this machine will find their way into vehicles with more mainstream appeal in the next few years.

(photo: Flickr user johnnrosenomads)