60th Anniversary Vespas
One of our dedicated Vespaway readers led me to his cache of Vespa's 60th anniversary special edition scooters, along with a press release talking about the new models. We first heard and saw these here and around the forums. Here's some of the info and a couple of photos passed on to me about the new models:
(from the press release)
The Vespa turns 60 in 2006 and Piaggio is celebrating the event with the launch of two extraordinary new Vespas: the Vespa GTV and Vespa LXV.
Vespa GTV
The Vespa GTS was the perfect base on which to carry out this styling exercise. The steel load-bearing body, an element of continuity and the trademark feature of the Vespa, which sets it apart from any other scooter, has never been changed and this Vespa is no exception. The changes made to come up with the GTV concern all the details that have been modified over the years to keep up with technological and design trends in various periods.
On the very first prototype in 1946 the headlamp was positioned on the front mudguard, moving to the handlebar in the mid-1950s. By placing the headlamp on the front mudguard once again, the Vespa GTV makes a clear reference to the origins of the Vespa, while the size and the lamp surface resemble the modern styling of the Vespa GTS.
A similar change has been made to the handlebar, a simple, visible metal tube on the very first Vespa prototype. The GTV also uses a "naked" handlebar, which however has a modern motorcycle-type look.
The round analogue speedometer-mileometer has relatively retro graphics, plus a digital ride information display.
The saddle, another feature that has changed considerably on Vespas over the years, has been comprehensively redesigned. As on the earliest Vespas, the GTV saddle is split into two distinct parts, one for the rider and one for the passenger. The genuine leather saddle has visible stitching, emphasising the detail on this vehicle.
A dual rear shock absorber, two disk brakes and big 12" wheels: the Vespa GTV has all the Vespa GTS's technical equipment.
The paint on the vehicle also recalls Vespa history. Like all the early Vespa prototypes, painted an aeronautic grey, the GTV is grey — albeit a warm, modern shade of iridescent metallic grey called Avio Grey — to enhance the size and styling of its steel body.
The Vespa GTV is being launched in two displacements, 125 and 250cc. Both engines are modern four-stroke, four-valve, liquid-cooled units.
The Vespa GTV's 125 engine delivers an excellent power output of 15 bhp / 11kW, the upper limit for two-wheelers ridden with a car license, and maximum torque of 11.5 Nm, for sparkling performance and enjoyable riding in town traffic or on joyrides with a passenger.
The 250cc Vespa GTV engine is an avant-garde new Quasar 250 with electronic injection that meets Euro 3 emissions standards.
The advanced closed loop injection with a Lambda sensor, together with a three-way catalytic converter and electronic control system, considerably reduces emissions as well as fuel consumption and provides immediate throttle response. The Vespa GTV 250 is fun to ride and quick off the mark, offering smooth and cost-effective running.
The Quasar 250 delivers 22 bhp power and 20.2 Nm torque at 8,250 and 6,500 rpm respectively — performance that takes the Vespa GTV to maximum speed of 122 km/h with the best acceleration of the current range of 250ccs on the market. The Vespa GTV's timeless elegance hence houses a very modern engine.
Vespa LXV
Developed on the base of the 2005 Vespa LX, the LXV has been conceived as a tribute to the 1960s Vespas.
The 1960s: a legendary decade that witnessed the social and cultural revolution that shaped contemporary society, marked by the emergence of youth for whom the Vespa symbolised individual mobility and freedom.
As on the Vespa GTV, the changes concern the accessory parts to the metal body, recently renewed on the LX series.
The headlamp remains in its original position on the handlebar, like the 1960s scooters from which the Vespa LXV is derived, but in a slimmer, more minimalist version to emphasise the unfaired handlebar and give the front of the vehicle a more lightweight look.
The analogue instrumentation is placed in a chrome-plated frame while the unique graphics resemble those in vogue in the 1960s.
The "naked" handlebar is a chrome-plated tube ending in new handles encased in fine leather, also used on the saddle that separates the rider and passenger seats as on the early models.
The Vespa LXV also "inherits"all the technical equipment on the LX series with an 11" front wheel, front disk brake and two very modern, environment-friendly engines in classic Vespa displacements, 50 and 125cc.
The 50cc 2 stroke Hi-Per2 is meant for riders seeking a simple, powerful and zippy engine. Its smooth running makes it ideal for town traffic with its continual stop-and-go.
The 125cc is perhaps the most classic Vespa displacement. The first Vespa in this displacement dates back to 1948, equipping the model that shot to fame in the movie classic Roman Holiday. Fifty-eight years on, the Vespa LXV 125 uses an extremely modern four-stroke Leader (Low Emission Advanced Engine Range), with a power output of 10.3 bhp taking the Vespa LXV to a speed of 91 km/h and thereby offering the power required to handle town traffic with the greatest of ease.
