Moto Guzzi V7 III coming soon

Moto Guzzi’s popular V7 range is to be refreshed for 2017 and become the V7 III line up as the bikes are adapted to meet Euro 4 emissions rules.

The firm’s current V7 II models were introduced in 2014 to replace the original V7 range. However, they don’t meet the strict new emissions laws that come into force on January 1 2017 in Europe. That means an update is essential if the models are to remain on sale next year. Now Guzzi has filed a trademark application for the name ‘V7 III’, confirming its plan for a new version.

The V7 II represented only a mild revision of the previous generation of V7. It altered the chassis, introduced a sixth gear and added electronics technology without introducing overt visual changes. Similarly, the V7 III isn’t expected to lead to wholesale changes to the model range.

Instead it’s likely that the focus will be on a heavily revised engine, probably closely related to the Euro 4 compliant motor in the V9. The fact that the V7 name is being retained suggests that the capacity will remain near the current bike’s 744cc. However, it’s possible that it will grow closer to the 853cc of the V9 in an effort to retain performance in the face of power-sapping emissions controls.

The model range, including the Racer, Special, Stone and the newly-launched Stornello scrambler is expected to remain largely unaltered. The changes will focus on meeting Euro 4 limits and introducing other legally-required technology including OBD-standard on-board diagnostics. The chassis and styling are unlikely to be radically modified.

Given Guzzi’s Italian heritage it’s virtually certain that the V7 III will be revealed late this year at the EICMA show in Milan. In the meantime, we’ll have to make do with the official logo for the bike. It was published this week as part of the trademark application at the European Intellectual Property Office.