Mar 25, 2008

Vespa Goes Retro with Newest Scooter

If you thought current car design has a retro streak, you ought to check out scooter manufacturers. With gasoline so highly priced here in the U.S., scooters are enjoying a revival, and Italian manufacturer Piaggio has embarked on an effort to create scooters with modern technology wrapped in retro styling. A prime example is the new Vespa 150 S.

It features classic Vespa traits like chrome trim, rectangular headlight, rounded rear light and a saddle with contrasting piping. The new 150 S doesn’t just recreate the styling of a single vintage scooter; instead, it combines styling hallmarks of several.

The good news is that the new Vespa isn’t quite as lethargic as its predecessors from the Swinging Sixties. The 150cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engine delivers enormous torque and horsepower compared to the scooters of yore. Acceleration is good, and maximum speed is said to be something close to 60 mph. The 2.3-gallon gas tank is well-hidden and offers a lot of range, since the new 150 S delivers about 90 miles per gallon.