The most powerful Vespa yet, the GTS300, has arrived
in the European market. The scooter made its debut at the EICMA motorcycle show
in Milan. The 2019 GTS 300 employs a 278cc, single-cylinder high-performance
engine (HPE) that delivers 23.8 bhp (a 12% increase) of max power at 8,250 rpm
and peak torque of 26Nm (an 18% improvement) at 5,250 rpm, making it the most
high-performance engine ever mounted on a Vespa. The added performance is
achieved with the use of new pistons and cylinder head designs. The standard
GTS 300 makes 22 hp of power and 22.2 Nm of torque.
Despite the added performance, the engine is Euro-V
compliant. This motor is paired with a CVT transmission. The power comes with
the safety net of traction control and ABS as standard equipment. The
double-disc braking system performs anchoring tasks.
While the GTS 300 is the most potent Vespa yet, it
still carries the retro styling. The style evolution of Vespa GTS continues to
be shaped by its heritage. Thus, you would see chrome highlights across the
body. Chrome treated highlights include headlight mask, garnish on the front
fender, rear view mirror housing, pillion grab rail, exhaust heat shield and
taillight surrounds among others.
The front section features a redesigned shield. The
shape of the handlebar, the chrome crest of the front mudguard, the rear view
mirrors and the grilles to the sides of the shield, characterised by a
brand-new honeycomb motif. Retro visuals are complemented by modern hardware. The headlight and
the tail lamp, for example, are LED units. The cockpit features a VESPA MIA
connectivity system that uses Bluetooth enabled colour TFT display for smartphone
integration while an application can be used to find the scooter. The TFT
display will show notifications about incoming calls and messages in the centre
of the screen.
To ensure the user's smartphone and other electronic
devices do not run out of juice, the Vespa GTS 300 comes with a USB charger.
The under seat storage is large enough to accommodate two open-face helmets
while the saddle cover features an anti-slip fabric. Buyers can select from five
variants of the Vespa GTS with HPE – the GTS, GTS Touring, GTS Super, GTS
SuperSport and the GTS SuperTech. The scooter is unlikely to reach the Indian
market anytime soon.
