Vespa’s strongest scooter proven to place dolce vita on fast-forward

Piaggio’s Vespa sub-brand has launched its strongest scooter thus far. Worthy of the GTV nameplate, the two-wheeler packs extra energy than many traditional financial system automobiles and a head-turning design that ensures it stands out even in cities the place scooters are all over the place.

Vespa borrowed the GTV designation from the automotive world, however this is not the primary time the nameplate has appeared on a scooter: the unique Vespa GTV launched in 2006 was fitted with a 22-horsepower engine. Quick-forward to 2022 and the newest mannequin packs 23.8 horsepower (yep, the decimal is essential right here) from a water-cooled, single-cylinder engine. If that does not sound like a lot, take into account this: The most affordable member of the present Vespa vary makes use of an air-cooled, 49.9-cubic-centimeter single-cylinder engine that makes 2.9 horsepower and a pair of.1 pound-feet of torque. On a private notice, for years my every day driver was a 1978 Citroën 2CV with a 24-horsepower 435-cc air-cooled flat-twin.

Seen on this gentle, 23.8 horsepower is loads. Visually, the GTV lives as much as its sporty positioning with a design characterised by an LED headlight mounted low on the fender, a racing-inspired fairing over the handlebar, and model-specific decals. Flat-black wheels with orange accents add a crowning glory to the look, and the one out there coloration introduced as of writing is Beige Avvolgente Opaco (pictured). The rider sits on a black seat with orange stitching and faces a digital instrument cluster, whereas ABS brakes assist preserve the ability in verify.

Like automobiles and bikes, scooters have gotten more and more high-tech. Vespa adopted this development by becoming the GTV with a keyless system that lets the rider begin the engine with out insert a key and smartphone connectivity, amongst different options. There’s even a USB port.

Pricing for the 2023 Piaggio Vespa GTV hasn’t been introduced. For context, the corporate’s core vary begins at 3,999 euros (roughly $4,200) for a base Dash mannequin and tops out at 7,499 euros (about $7,800) for a GTS Tremendous 300 Tech with a beneficiant record of options.