ART ATTACK

A chat with a man whose job is to make stunning Italian machines!

- 

Kartik Ware: Is there anything you'd like to discuss about the Aprilia Tuono 457 and its design before I ask my questions?

Marco Lambri: I have some sketches — not the very first ones, since the bike is more or less finished — but they represent well what a new Aprilia, especially the baby Tuono, is. Aprilia is known not just for performance, but also for design. That's important across all our products, even scooters. It's not easy to explain what Aprilia design is — I'd prefer the shapes to speak for themselves. But I can describe our approach using three guiding words: dynamic, sporty, and light.

Dynamic, because when you look at our bikes, they should feel like they're in motion — even while standing still. Lightness, because weight is the opposite of sportiness. Expressing lightness through shape communicates performance. And sportiness, because we draw constant inspiration from racing — our MotoGP team, for example, influences our road bikes.

Aprilia also has its own design language — distinctive proportions, the signature three-eyed face, a pronounced front and minimal tail, and a frame that looks like it belongs on a race bike. It's not like what our competitors use. That's the essence of the Tuono 457. But entering the naked segment was tough. There are so many competitors, and to stand out with so few elements — just a tank, headlight, and seat — is difficult. But Aprilia's three-eyed headlight gives us a visual signature. On this bike, we reinterpreted that signature because unlike other Tuonos, this one doesn't have a half-fairing. We deliberately avoided that.