The Piaggio Group have announced new models to be unveiled at Eicma in Milan today, with motorcycles from Moto Guzzi and Aprilia (including an electric motorbike), while the new scooters consist of updated GTS and GTV Vespas, striking new colours for the Primavera model and 946, plus the latest electric Piaggio 1 scooter.
Starting from the top, the new Vespa GTS 300 and 125 models have already been revealed and indeed you can read all about them here at ScooterNova from our online blog articles here and here.
Vespa GTV300
The Vespa GTV model was launched in 2006 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first Vespa scooter. Since then it has become a regular in the range, usually by way of a ‘special’ version. For 2023 the GTV receives the same upgrades as the regular GTS with LED lights, keyless ignition, the 23.8hp 300 engine, plus new LCD instrumentation. It’s also likely to have the new front suspension and forks set up we revealed back in September here.
The new colour scheme for 2023 looks quite snazzy in our opinion, and the matt black trim also means it doesn’t get the arguably garish chrome light-switch housings that the regular GTS has, which is nice.
Vespa 946 10° Anniversario
I did like the Vespa 946 when that first arrived back in 2013, my biggest criticism being that the almost radical production Vespa could have been mass produced rather than hand-built for the more affluent customers.
But a limited edition model it is, and the latest version for 2023 celebrates 10 years since the concept of this Vespa.
The special ’10° Anniversario’ Vespa is once again is finished in an exclusive dedicated colour, this time “a modern take on a classic Vespa shade, green.” Piaggio continue, “It’s no coincidence that this shade emerged as a trend in the Spring Summer 2023 fashion collections at the New York, London and Milan Fashion Weeks. The pearlescent colour appears pastel at first glance, but then gains depth with illumination.” The wheel rims have edges painted to match, the double-upholstered saddle is black with burnished stitching, as are the hand grips, “hand-sewn with needle and thread.” The rear luggage rack is also finished to compliment the main scooter.
The technical details of the Vespa 946 10° Anniversario appear the same as previous models, the 125 and 150cc versions aluminium alloy split wheel rims, whose fins are intended as a reference to the historic drum brake that equipped the first Vespas, single saddle, LED lights, LCD display and a price tag that will undoubtedly be above that of a GTS 300.
Vespa Primavera Colour Vibe
The smallframe model of the Vespa range, the Primavera Color (sic) Vibe adds some rather tasty looking options to the showroom floor.
The Vespa Primavera Color Vibe is characterised by a special two-tone livery: the body, available in the Arancio Color Vibe and Bianco Color Vibe shades, both matched with a floor in Ottanio, “a bold and decisive shade of turquoise.”
A contrasting colour, outlined in black, runs diagonally across the entire body on the sides and front, the horn grille on front shield is also in Ottanio, as well as the exclusive wheel rims, made only for this version.
The look is completed by sporty black trim from nose to tail and around the legshields and the exhaust heat shield, and the rather tasty Vespa Primavera Color Vibe is available in 50, 125, and 150cc versions with the displacement indicated in orange on the side panels. Expect only the 50 and 125 to be imported into the UK however.
Piaggio 1 MY2023
A higher performance version of the all electric Piaggio 1 is to be announced at EICMA, with the goal of ensuring even quicker, easier, and safer commuting.
Changes have been made to the Power Unit, the electric motor that powers Piaggio 1 range, built in on the rear wheel, which Piaggio claim, “Is now capable of providing better performance, which translates into a quicker and easier ride in city traffic that is characterised by frequent stops and starts, as well as more power on hills.”
The moped versions (Piaggio 1 and Piaggio 1+), with speed limited to 45 km/h, has almost double the peak power (2.3 and 3 kW, respectively) whereas the motorbike version (Piaggio 1 Active) reaches 3 kW peak power. The result is an increase in acceleration. The Piaggio 1 has a claimed range of up to 55 km in ECO mode, the Piaggio 1+ up to 100 km in ECO mode, while the Piaggio 1 Active has speed of 60 km/h and a claimed range of up to 85 km in ECO mode.
Having ridden the Piaggio 1, it is a pretty good scooter for commuting, and even on rural roads it held it’s own. ECO mode (aka slower) is not a mode you’d want to go far in, unless traffic dictated your speed of course, so the range will depend on your circumstances.
The Piaggio 1 is also like a real scooter, by which I mean it feels solid, the brakes and suspension are good, it has full (LED) lighting, you could carry a passenger and there is a spacious under-seat storage compartment. In all versions, the battery is located beneath the seat, easily removable in just a few seconds and portable so it can be conveniently charged at home or in the office.
The new Vespa GTS scooters are already in showrooms around the UK. As for when other models may rrive, speak with your local Piaggio Vespa or visit https://www.piaggio.com/gb_EN/
Here is a gallery of images:
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