2016 Vespa Sprint S and Primavera Tourer
Vespa has been busy refreshing their
scooter line up for 2016. The first changes came in summer 2015 with the early
introduction of the 2016 GTV 300.
This revised GTV gained ABS and
ASR (traction control) like the GTS models did for 2015, but Vespa went a step
further and also redesigned the saddle, added a new tail light with a chrome
frame, chromed the rims and revised the front rack and windscreen. With the
updates the GTV 300 raise US$ 100 to US$ 7499 in the USA. Pricing in Canada is US$ 7795
which is steal with the Canadian dollar at US$ 0.73. The only GTV color for 2016
is metallic grey.
Also new is the Emporio Armani edition
of the 946 (aka 946 EA). This time around the 946 is offered in a neat dark
grey/green color with handsome matte black accents including the rims. It’s a
great look other than the over abundance of Armani logo’s on the machine. Some
accents like the rear rack and mirrors are a nic e pewter finish. As usual, the 946 is
likely to list for around US$ 10g and it apparently is only being offered from a
few big dealers in handful of major cities.
More relevant to regular Vespa
enthusiasts are the new versions of the Sprint and Primavera. Vespa has done a
nice job putting together a sport version of the Sprint and a touring version
of the Primavera. The sport version of the Sprint is called the Sport S 150 (no
50 cc option) and it adds a ribbed seat, black rims and side striping on top of
the unique titanium color for an extra US$ 100 vs. the regular Sprint. It’s a nice
option for the extra money. The rims in particular look great in black.
The new Primavera Tourer 150 is a
tougher decision because it adds a substantial US$ 400 to the price tag (US$ 5399).
This touring version adds a few functional features (windscreen, rear rack) and
a few features that are more for style (ribbed leather seat, front rack). This
model carries on where the old LXV 150 left off in the spirit of Quadrophenia.
Pricing is up across the Vespa range by US$ 50 - US$100. The 50 cc Vespa’s are up US$ 50 to US$ 3650 (Primavera) or $3750 (Sprint).
The 150 models are up US$ 100 to US$ 4999 (Primavera) or US$ 5299 (Sprint). The reason
for the price difference between the Sprint and Primavera is because only the
former comes with ABS.
With all the new features the Primavera
Tourer is listing for US$ 5399, which is the same as the Sprint S 150, so it’s
your choice between ABS or a few racks and a windscreen. Color options are also
updated for 2016, with Vespa typically narrowing the choices by a few colors.
