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New scooters galore in Milan

Vespa

As you’ve maybe heard by now, there’s a brand new Vespa and it’s named the Quarantasei, or the 46 in English (which would make a boring looking frame badge!).

And if you ever needed proof that the Vespa is still king of the scooters, you only had to experience the press scramble around the Piaggio stand for the unveiling of this new model. Yes there was a Moto Guzzi motorcycle there, an Aprilia too, but it was the Vespa that got the cameras flashing like a paperazzi shootout in Leicester Square.

The designers of the Quarantasei took inspiration from the earliest Vespa, the MP6 prototype and 1946 Vespa 98 (hence the name), and created this stunning new scooter. Manufactured from metal, as all Vespas are of course, it features a disc
brake on the single sided front fork, handlebar end indicators, a luggage hook, round rear light set in the frame and a new air-cooled, three-valve 125cc four-stroke auto engine developed by Piaggio at Pontedera in Italy that we are told should offer similar output to that of the current GTS 125. We presume the clear panel in the left side is removable to allow for engine maintenance and servicing.

Production is set to start later in 2012, but Piaggio suggests demand will be high, adding that customers who order one soon would get delivery by Christmas 2012.

No price has been divulged yet, but I truly hope it will be closer to the ‘reasonable’ rather than ‘limited edition’ price bracket. Personally, I think it’s stunning...

Also in Milan were the latest Special Edition Vespas. These included the Vespa GTS Supersport in orange and a Vespa S Sport in satin black, both featuring touches such as red suspension and graphics. There was also the Vespa GTV and Vespa LXV Vie della Moda limited edition models, finished in a shade named ‘Marrone Etna’...